XIV INTRODUCTION. 



good a means of attracting insects. Some of the most 

 beautiful moths fly only at night. 



Look for beetles under logs, boards, and under the bark 

 of old logs and stumps. Look in ponds for insects and 

 their larvae. Treeless meadows and deep forests are not 

 as good places for insects as gardens, the edges of woods, 

 and the banks of streams and ponds. Collect cocoons and 

 larvae, as well as caterpillars, and keep them to see what 

 they become. It is well to carry several small boxes in 

 which to put such specimens, and insects that have been 

 killed in the cyanide bottle, that they may not become 

 bruised. 



MOUNTING INSECTS. 



For mounting insects get shallow cigar-boxes. Special 

 pins, called insect pins, are made for this work, but com- 

 mon pins will serve. In the bottom of the box tack small 

 pieces of cork, made by slicing an ordinary cork parallel 

 to its ends. Have the insects about two-thirds of the way 

 up the pin. Pin beetles through the right wing cover. 

 Pin butterflies with the wings spread, and pin through 

 the side of the body to show the position when at rest. 

 If the insect has dried, it may be softened by wrapping in 

 a wet cloth, in the . case of hard insects as beetles and 

 grasshoppers ; for softening butterflies, put a wad of soaked 

 paper into a fruit jar, cover this with dry paper, and put 

 in the butterflies still in their^papers. Having softened 

 the insect in this way, it may be pinned to a piece of cork 

 or a pin cushion, and the wings having been stretched, 

 they may be pinned in this position, and so kept till dry. 

 For holding the wings in place cut small triangles of thick 

 paper, thrust the pins through these triangular papers ; and 



