62 THE TAXIDERMIST'S GUIDE. 



Brass Pliers, fig. 25.— These are used for picking up small 

 insects from the roots of grass, &c. They may also be used for lay- 

 ing hold of small insects, while they are yet free and not set up. 



Fan Forceps. — This very useful instrument to the Entomolo- 

 gist, must be made of steel or iron, and about eight or ten inches 

 in length ; its general construction is like that of a pair of scis- 

 sors, and it is held and used in the same manner. Towards the 

 points are formed a pair of fans, which may either be square, oval, 

 hexagonal, or octagonal in the edges, and the centres covered with 

 fine gauze. The general size of the fans is from four to six inches. 

 These are used for capturing Bees, Wasps, and Muscae. They are 

 also used for catching Butterflies, Moths, and Sphinges. If an 

 insect is on a leaf, both leaf and insect may be inclosed within 

 the fans ; or if they are on a wall or the trunk of a tree, they may 

 be very easily secured by them. 



If a Butterfly, Sphinx, or Moth, are captured by the forceps, 

 while yet between the fans, they should be pressed pretty smoothly 

 with the thumb-nail, on the thorax or bod}% taking care, how- 

 ever, not to crush it. It may then be taken into the hand, and a 

 pin passed through the thorax, and then stuck into the bottom of 

 your hunting-box. 



Quills. — These are of great use in carrying minute insects. 

 They should be neatly stopped with cork and cement, at one end ; 

 the other end should be provided with a small moveable cork, for 

 a stopper. Each end should be wrapped carefully round with a 

 silk thread waxed, to prevent them from splitting. 



Pocket Larvae-Box. — For collecting Caterpillers, this box is 

 very essential : it consists merely of a chip-box, with a hole 

 pierced in the centre of the top and bottom, and covered with 

 gauze, for the admission of air. It will be necessary to put into 

 the box some of the leaves on which the larvae feed, as they are 

 very voracious, and cannot long exist without food. 



Pill-Boxes. — No Entomologist should be without five or six 

 dozen of these useful articles. They are of great value in collect- 

 ing the smaller species of Lepiclopterous Insects, such as the Tinea, 

 &c. , and only one specimen should be put in each box, as, if more 

 than one, they are apt to injure each other's wings, by beating 

 against each other, 



