March, 1902 .] Remarks on Study of Leaf-Hoppers. 
225 
easily by the thumb are most convenient), and captures from 
different plants may then be kept separate, or in case of a large 
catch, one bottle may be put aside for the insects to quiet down 
while others are caught in another bottle. When certainl}- dead 
it is well to transfer them to small pill boxes, noting plant from 
which they are taken on the box. If the bottle becomes moist it 
should be kept from wetting the insects by inserting a little blot- 
ting paper or absorbent material, as the delicate species will be 
ruined by too much moisture. To keep separate all the species 
that may be collected 011 a large number of plants may require 
many tubes and boxes, but the data thus secured is worth the 
effort and the memory should not be trusted for such data, at 
least until the species are well known. 
As soon as convenient after the insects are dead they should be 
sorted over, separating, if desired, the various species, and if to 
be packed for examination at some later date or for transmission 
by mail, they should be put in pill boxes in thin laj’ers separated 
by soft paper, the box being filled so that no rattling is possible. 
The papers may be cut to just fit the box and in this form data 
may be recorded on each slip to apply to the insects beneath it. 
Care should be taken that specimens of the different layers may 
not possibly become mixed. If the specimens are to be studied 
or mounted they may be spread out on white paper and protected 
temporarily by covering with a bell jar. 
Some of the largest species may be piuned after the usual man- 
ner, but the most satisfactory method of mounting is to glue the 
insect on a paper “point,” which is supported on an ordinary 
insect pin. The head of the insect should be directed forward 
when the point stands to the left of the pin and the label or 
labels with locality, date, collector’s name and the food plant, 
when known, placed beneath. The best effect is gained by pin- 
ning through the right hand edge of the label and pushing it up 
to near the point when the left hand edge should be about equal 
to the point or project very slightly beyond it. I use points 
about 8 or 9 mm. long, just wide enough at base to hold the pin, 
and place them uniformly about ten millimeters from the head of 
the pin. When arranged in series of four abreast comparison is 
easy and points of difference are quickly noted. 
The parts most used in classification may be illustrated in the 
accompanying figure. On the dorsal part of the head, shown at 
r, the space within occiput, eyes and anterior margin is the vertex, 
the part shown back of the head is the pronotum the dorsum of 
prothorax. The front of the head or “ face,” b , includes a large 
central portion, the front, and below this is a squarish piece, the 
clypeus, below which is the minute labrum resting on the beak. 
At each side of the clypeus is a well defined area, oval or semi- 
elliptical in shape, the lora, between which and the eye is the 
