58 collector's manual 



of cyanide and seat that firmly. The cyanide will immediately 

 produce enough gas to kill insects, but not enough to be a 

 danger to the collector. However, do not stick your nose into 

 a killing bottle to find out whether it is still strong. If cyanide 

 is not available, plug the bottom of the bottle with soft, wadded 

 paper and moisten the paper each time you go collecting with 

 carbon tetrachloride (Carbona), chloroform, or ether. The cyanide- 

 type bottle will last for months and, when necessary, ma} r be 

 easily cleaned out and recharged. 



A net frame, similar to a fisherman's landing net, can be made 

 from flexible branches and string. If j r ou are where the rattan 

 palm grows, a few yards of rattan will make an excellent frame. 

 A torn mosquito bar that is no longer good enough to sleep under 

 will provide the netting. 



Carry also a small bottle or two partly filled with strong alcohol 

 if available. Many kinds of insects are better killed in fluid than 

 in cj'anide. Carbon tetrachloride (Carbona) can be substituted 

 for the alcohol. 



For extensive collecting a beating net and cloth are desirable. 

 The beating net is made with a frame of heavy wire 12 inches 

 in diameter fastened to a strong handle. The net bag is of strong 

 white cloth. This is used to sweep grass and other vegetation, 

 gathering whatever insects may be present. The beating cloth 

 is a 3-foot square of strong white cloth with a narrow pocket 

 sewed in each corner. Light, flexible sticks of the proper length 

 are thrust crosswise into the corner pockets to extend the cloth 

 like a sheet. Hold the cloth with the sticks uppermost beneath 

 branches and beat the leaves and trunks with a stick so that 

 insects will fall on the sheet. 



