30 



THE COLLECTOR'S MONTHLY. 



the left hand by the lower end, — the slip 

 pointing towards the left. Now place on 

 the tip of the slip a small amount of glue 

 LePage's Liquid Glue answers the pur- 

 pose very well, There should be such a 

 small amount of the glue that it will not 

 be observable after the insect is mounted- 

 While the pin is thus held, place the bee- 

 tle across the glued end, so that the head 

 will be directed away from the operator 

 and the back be uppermost. If lying on 

 either side it should be the right side, 

 bringing the back towards the pin. Don't 

 be satisfied until the insect is perfectly 

 square on the slip. Nothing reflects more 

 discredit on a collector than a collection 

 in which the specimens are pinned at all 

 heights on the pins and in all directions 

 on the slips. Don't mount mutilated 

 specimens or allow them inthecollection. 

 It might be allowed, were the specimens 

 very rare, but not otherwise. A little 

 care bestowed on each specimen as it is 

 mounted, will make the whole a "thing 

 of beauty." 



Where And How to Collect 

 Beetles. 



The old rule for collecting so often 

 repeated is "look everywhere." This is 

 rather indefinite, . but still is the best 

 genera] rule that can be given. The 

 number and variety of specimens obtain- 

 ed will not depend so much on the extent 

 of territory passed over, as the manner 

 in which it is done. . The eye should be 

 trained that nothing however minute or 

 obscure could escape its notice, and then, 

 "look everywhere." Experience will soon 

 show us the best collecting grounds. 

 Many beetles will be found under loose 

 objects lying on the ground, such as logs, 

 boards, stones, leaves, bones excrement, 

 dead animals, etc. Picking over the 

 debris cast up by storms and freshets 

 often proves ver.v remunerative. Many 

 nice things live or hibernate under the 



bark of trees and logs. Beating bushes 

 and trees over a sheet, or an umbrella 

 (turned upside down), should also be 

 frequently tried. Sweeping the open 

 mouth of the deep net quite forcibly 

 through grass, weeds, and low herbage, 

 will often secure large quantities of 

 material. Many water-beetles can be 

 obtained by dredging ponds and pools, 

 especially along a muddy bottom and 

 among water weeds. The different kinds 

 of fungi which grow on the sides of trees 

 and logs, harbor many species of beetles. 

 Collecting about all kinds of flowers 

 should be persevered in as long as there 

 are any in bloom. The collector often 

 strikes a veritable "bonanza" about 

 street, electric or gas lamps, water bee- 

 tles, especially, sometimes being found 

 in countless numbers. They may be 

 taken from the lamp globes, or picked 

 up on the ground underneath. In col- 

 lecting, " perseverance" is the watchword. 

 A dozen places may be examined and not 

 a thing found, while the next one will be 

 alive with beetles. 



Labeling. 



Every pin should bear a label, yet the 

 labels should be just as small and few in 

 number as possible. Locality labels for 

 any state can be purchased ready print- 

 ed. This and a number referring to the 

 "Accession Catalogue" is all that is 

 necessary. Some collectors do not use 

 the accession catalogue, but specimens 

 with data are worth a great deal more 

 than those without. The accession cat- 

 alogue contains simply the number and 

 gives the exact location, and particular 

 circumstances under which the specimen 

 was taken. If a large number of speci- 

 mens were found in the same place they 

 would all go under the same accession 

 number. The labels should be made as 

 small as possible, neatly cut, and run 

 well up on the pin. 



