A Penny Weekly Magazine of Natural History. 



No. 18. FEBRUARY 28th, 1880. Vol. 1. 



HOW TO BEGIN. 



QNE of our critics points out that 

 while Ave have had abundance of 

 matter suitable for those who have 

 begun their Entomological studies, we 

 have as yet had nothing for those who 

 are only "going to begin." There is 

 no doubt the criticism is a just one, 

 and we must at once descend into the 

 •' lower deep," for some at any rate 

 of our readers are only going to begin 

 this year. " First catch your hare " 

 said, as has been often quoted, a good 

 lady, who was going to instruct how 

 the hare was to be cooked, and this 

 very sensible advice is as necessary 

 in forming a collection of insects, as 

 in anything else. To catch insects 

 you require a net. You will find 

 some instructions for making a net, 

 in No. 7, Page 53, but we would ad- 

 vise you to try and buy one. For 

 about four or five shillings you will 

 get a very good one, that with care 

 will serve you a long time. If that 

 is more than you can afford, you will 

 be able to obtain a cheaper article at 

 Is. 6d. or 2s. each. Some collectors 

 when they capture insects, prefer to 

 kill them at once, and for this pur- 



pose, they carry a cyanide bottle 

 which shall be described presently, 

 or else they use the rougher, though 

 more expeditious way of " pinching " 

 the insect on the thorax, below the 

 insertion of the wings. Understand, 

 however, we do not recommend this 

 method, nor indeed do we often use 

 the cyanide bottle or other means of 

 killing when collecting, but bring- 

 home nearly all our captures alive. 

 Those who kill as they take, some- 

 times pin them as they are intended 

 to be pinned for the cabinet, others 

 pin them through the side of the 

 thorax, under the wings as described 

 above. If you insert the pin as you 

 intend it to remain, see that the head 

 leans forward a little ; not too much, 

 that is as awkward as leaning it 

 back. Push it well through, far 

 enough at all events, to keep every 

 part of the insect clear of the bottoms 

 of your cabinet drawers. But unless 

 you are quite sure your insect is dead, 

 they are better pinned through the 

 side. If you prefer to bring home 

 your game alive, procure a quantity 

 of chip boxes, nested, that is, made 

 to fit, one inside the other, when you 



