THE COLLECTORS' MONTHLY. 



os 



(i~>-'l.) 1-17. Amis ameriaajia. 

 American BalUpate. 



Wry simular to the last species, but 

 distinguished by lack of chestnut on the 

 head and other slight differences. 



A fare migrant at the cast end. I 

 Hushed one from a small pond on Shelter 

 Island, on Sept, 11th, 1886, the only one 

 I ever saw alive. Breeds in the western 

 lake regions of the U. S. Nest placed on 

 the ground in thick growth of grass or 

 bushes, near the water, making a nesl of 

 grass and leaves, lined with down and 

 feathers. Eggs eight to twelve, yellowish 

 or pale buff, and measures about 2xl%in. 



[Written for the Collectors' Monthly.] 

 Hints to Young Collectors. 



In this paper I will take up the different 

 branches of the subject, from the stand 

 pointof my own experience in egg collect- 

 ing. The main thing is to be sure of your 

 identification, no mailer how well pre- 

 paied an egg may be, don't forget if its 

 identity is not perfect it is nearly worth- 

 less. Always blow eggs with a single 

 hole in the side and never break sets when 

 you can possibly avoid it. The best way 

 1 ever found to keep eggs is to pack them 

 in cigar boxes, first lining the box with 

 white or pink cotton, wadding and cover- 

 jug the eggs with a, piece of the same. Be 

 sure your eggs are perfectly clean and 

 dry before putting I hem away, for it not 

 moths and mould will soon ruin them. A 

 week solution of corrosive sublimate in 

 water has proven of great benefit in my 

 case as it thouroughly disinfects them. 

 When out after eggs you will rind a 

 square tin box provided with a strap for 

 earring long enough logo over the shoul- 

 der, very convenient' for eggs. Always 

 parry a number of folded papers in 

 which to place insects, and a small bottle 

 of chloroform in the vest pocket. In in 

 je< i collecting you will need a net for 

 moths and butterflies. The one 1 use is 



simply a bro< »m handle, in one end of 

 which is a ring oi beavj wive. Sewed to 

 t he u ire is a bag of common mosquito 

 netting. The whole cost 5 cents, and is 

 jnsi as servicible as one costing t w . . < . r 

 three dollars. I always kill butterflies, 

 moths and grasshoppers with chloroform, 

 while beetles and bugs can be pul in a 

 large mouthed bottle containing a little 

 cyanide of potassium. The best way to 

 prepare a bottle for t his purpose is after 



putting in the cyanide, pour in e igh 



plaster of paris and water to cover the 

 cyandie. This soon set« and you will find 

 it better I ban to cover I he cyanide with 

 cotton as many do. Beetles are pinned 

 through the right wing cover, bugs 

 through the center of the back, and 

 moth*, butterflies, bees, dragon flies, 

 etc., through theback bet ween the wings. 

 A convenient block to use in spreading 

 the wings is made of a couple strips of 

 cigar box, two inches wide nailed at each 

 end to a piece of wood I'.-, inches long. 

 Cut this SO the outer edges of t he strips 

 when fastened will be a fourth inch high- 

 er than the inner edges, (his will leave a 

 third of an inch bet ween the si rips. To 

 this on the under side, glue a strip of 

 sheet cork, and it is done. 1 made a 

 dozen last year at a cost of three and a 

 fourth cents each. When setting to dry, 

 spread the wings carefully to their full 

 extent, and arrange legs and antenna' in 

 a natural manner. Wind all with soft 

 thread or place o\rv the wings a narrow 

 strip of card board, pinning securely, be 

 careful and do not tear the wings and 

 handle the butterflies as lit lie as possible 

 asthe.\ arc easily spoiled in this way. 

 After they are thoroughly dry turn the 

 specimen over ami carefully paint the 

 bodies with corrosivcsubliiuat edissolvcd 

 in alcohol. This will greatly lessen the 

 danger of moths. When in (he cases do 

 not overcrowd them, as this does much 



