276 DIRECTIONS FOR COLLECTING MICROLEPIDOPTERA. 
I go out with a coat provided with large pockets inside and out, 
containing an assortment of pill boxes generally of three sizes, 
glass bottomed pill boxes preferred, a bag slung over my shoulder, 
and a net. Unless searching for particular day flying species 
I prefer the last three hours before dark. As the sun goes 
down many species move which do not. stir at other times. I 
watch the tops of the grass, the stems of the flowers, the twigs of 
the trees; I disturb leaves and low growing plants with a short 
switch and secure each little moth that moves, taking each out of 
the net in a separate pill box, selected according to the size of the 
insect, as he runs up the net to escape. Transferring the fall i 
boxes to the bag I continue the process until moths cease flying or 
night sets in. Many species can be taken with a lamp after dark, 
Returning to camp I put a few drops of liquid ammonia ons : 
small piece of sponge and place it in a tin canister with such ot 
the boxes as do not contain the smallest species, and put these 
and the remainder away until morning in a cool place. In the 
morning I prepare for work by getting out a pair of scissors, # 
pair of forceps, my drying box containing setting boards, a sheet 
of white paper and some pins. K 
First, I cut two or three narrow pieces of paper from tat 
six lines wide, or rather wider, according to the size of the la f 
and smallest specimens I have to set. I then double each of thes 
strips and ent it up into braces by a number of oblique cuts Mt 
_ I turn ont the contents of the canister and damp the sponge $ 
a few drops of fresh ammonia, refilling with boxes containing 
insects. Those which have been taken out will be found to be 
dead and in a beautifully relaxed condition for setting. =% 
smallest specimens been placed in the canister Over night, © 
would have been some fear of their drying pp, owing to the 
amount of moisture in their bodies. ee 
If the weather is very hot there is some danger of killed ™ 
becoming stiff while others are being set, in whic 
at once to pin into a damp cork box all that have 
of the canister, but under ordinary circumstances 
them one by one as I set them: 
Taking the lid off a box, and taking the box betwee?” 
and thumb of the right hand, I roll out the insect on the! 
left thumb, supporting it with the top of the fore pee i 
manipulating it as to bring the head pointing tori 
threet 
h case it is 
peen taken 
I prefer 
