INSTRUCTIONS FOE COLLECTING INSECTS. 49 
catching insects on the wing. It is, however, desirable to have a 
large kite-net for catching butterflies, and a strong iron ring-net 
for water insects. 
Pill-boxes of all sorts are useful, and common chip-boxes are very 
handy; but it is especially desirable to have as many glass-bottom 
boxes as practicable. To prevent these getting clamp, they should 
have at least the top and edges painted with shellac or enamel 
paint. 
Cyanide Killing -bottle. — This should be a wide-mouthed bottle. At 
the bottom put about 1 ounce of fused cyanide 
of potassium, then enough dry plaster of Paris 
nearly to cover it (filling in the interspaces), and 
on to the top of this pour some plaster mixed with 
water to the consistency of thick cream, to make 
about |-inch thickness over the cyanide. As 
some heat is generated during this process, it is 
well to stand the bottle in warm water to prevent 
it cracking. Besides this portable bottle it is well 
to have a larger jar, similarly made, for killing 
specimens when taken home. 
Collecting -tin. — This is very useful for some 
purposes. It has a false bottom of perforated 
zinc. In the space at the bottom is placed some 
blotting-paper, with a few drops of chloroform or 
pure benzole. The insects are put into the upper 
part ; and to prevent them rolling about, it is well 
to put some crumpled pieces of blotting-paper in 
first. 
CYANIDE KILLING- 
BOTTLE. 
COLLECTING -TIN. 
Zinc Collecting -box. — Boxes made of zinc and lined with cork are 
to be had from Natural History agents. The cork should be well 
moistened with water, and then four or five drops of strong carbolic 
acid added. Specimens can be kept in a relaxed state for a con- 
siderable time in a properly prepared box. 
