42 



THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



The next desideratum is a killing bottle, which may be purchased cheaply. 

 These bottles contain cyanide of potassium (a poison) covered with plaster of 

 Paris, and if kept tightly corked will retain their deadly properties for a long 

 time. For my own use, I prefer making a killing bottle by placing a small 

 piece of sponge, moistened with common Benzolirie, in the bottom of a wide 

 mouthed bottle, and over it I put a piece of stout card perforated with small 

 holes. This does not act quite so rapidly as the cyanide bottle, but if two 

 benzoline bottles are used alternately no difficulty will be experienced on this 

 score, and it has the advantage of being both simple and inexpensive. The 

 plan of pinching the thorax of a butterfly or moth is at the best a bungling 

 method and deforms and damages the insects. 



The collector will also find it necessary to have with him a box in which 

 to pin the specimens after they have been killed. This should be light and 

 strong, made of wood, lined with cork, and so constructed that it will shut 

 securely. The size may be about 7 inches long by 5 wide and 2 \ deep, or 

 larger according to the number of insects the collector hopes to obtain on a 

 single excursion. If it is made such a size as to slip conveniently into the 

 pocket of a light overcoat it will be found more convenient. A supply of 

 about three sizes of entomological pins is also required, and, if in addition to 

 these, the collector takes with him a few strong pill boxes in which to place 

 anything it is not desirable to pin in the box, he will be sure to find them 

 very useful. 



Many collectors, instead of killing their insects as obtained, prefer to take 

 them home alive, and kill them at their leisure. If eggs of any species are 

 desired, this course is absolutely necessary. Tor this, chip boxes are required, 

 which may be bought "nested" from any chemist, at from 2/- to 2/6 per 

 gross. " Nested " means that the sizes pack one within the other. In buy- 

 ing these do not get what are called " cut-down boxes," which are too flat, 

 but the ordinary kind. For smaller insects, cardboard " pill " boxes are con- 

 venient, as they take up less room in the pocket. Some insects do not rest 

 quietly in these boxes, but most do, and the collector will soon learn which 

 he can safely " box." When captures are taken home in this way, it is well 

 to have a larger receptacle for killing than the ordinary killing bottle, and a 

 good-sized tin box, such as a pound mustard tin, or a larger one if you like, 

 will do very well. At the bottom of this place a few pieces of cyanide of 

 potassium, and either cover them with plaster as named above, or with a piece 

 of cardboard the size of the inside of the box. When you want to use it 

 open slightly the boxes containing your specimens, aud place them in the 

 larger box, leaving them there a longer or shorter time, according to the 

 strength of your poison. The advantages of this plan are than you have not 



