THE COLLECTION OF SPECIMENS. 



289 



between 8 A. M. and 2 P. M., and in the evening twilight. 

 These are the times during which searching for insects 

 in the fields will yield the largest returns. If, how- 

 ever, the collecting be restricted to these periods 

 many species will escape notice. Many insects can 

 also be collected after dark by enticing them to lights 

 or sweetened baits. 



While the careful collector will search for speci- 

 mens in all manner of places, there are certain locali- 

 ties in which insects occur much more abundantly 

 than in others. First in importance is upon herbage 

 and shrubbery, where many species of plants are 

 growing together, and especially upon the borders 

 of woods. Open fields, which are covered chiefly by 

 a single species of plant, and deep, dense forests fur- 

 nish many interesting forms, but a much more limited 

 variety. The banks and beds of ponds and streams 

 are also excellent collecting places. A great variety 

 of forms can be obtained from the lower surface of 

 stones taken from the beds of streams. Many species 

 may be found in the moss on the trunks of trees, be- 

 neath bark, and in rotten stumps and logs. Other 

 forms are obtained from flowers, from dead animals, 

 from fungi, in decaying fruits, in seeds and nuts, and 

 under stones, chips, and other rubbish. Frequently 

 many cocoons and chrysalids can be found attached 

 to fences and to the sides of buildings, and many in- 

 teresting nests occur attached beneath eaves and to 

 the lower surface of the roofs of barns and other 

 buildings. 



III. HOW TO COLLECT INSECTS. 



There are ways, to be described later, by which 

 large numbers of specimens are easily obtained. But 



