INSTRUCTIONS FOR, 
Collecting -bottle. — This is a bottle specially made 
for entomologists. It is compressed, so that it may 
be carried conveniently in the pocket. It has a 
glass tube or large quill passed through the cork, 
fitted with a plug. It is very useful for collecting 
small Coleoptera, etc. A piece of crumpled muslin 
should be placed in it for the insects to cling to. 
The cork should be covered with sealing-wax on the 
inside to prevent insects burrowing into it. 
Trowel and Digger. — One or both of these are necessary 
for digging in the ground, for ripping off bark of trees, 
etc. A narrow fern-trowel answers best. 
U Forceps. — Entomological forceps are made with curved 
1 points for taking hold of pins : straight, fine pointed forceps 
1 for setting are very necessary; they should have very little 
fj spring, and are best made of brass. 
FORCEPS. 
Q um , For gumming small insects on card some entomologists 
use gum-tragacanth, as it is less conspicuous ; but it has the 
great disadvantage of being very difficult to wash off. Gum-arabic, 
with a very small quantity of powdered loaf-sugar and one or 
two drops of glycerine, is perhaps the best mixture. If pure 
gum-arabic is used, the insects are liable to spring off. The 
sugar and glycerine prevent this ; but the latter must be used very 
sparingly, as it has a tendency to attract moisture, which is one of 
the entomologist's greatest foes. For some purposes, Le Page's 
liquid glue (Russia Cement Co.) is invaluable. Some entomologists 
use McCaw's seccotine, a very similar preparation, which has the 
advantage of being sold in metal tubes, so that it is portable. 
