54 
INSTRUCTIONS FOR 
No. 23, used for the smaller species, but, as a rule, specimens which 
are small enough to require this size are better pinned with a short 
pin, and then staged. No. 20, a short, very fine pin for small flies, 
gnats, etc. Nos. 10 and 5 are degrees stouter. 
An ounce of No. 20 pins (7s. 6d. per ounce) contains about 
3, t 50 pins, but these short pins can be obtained in quarter-ounce 
boxes. An ounce of No. 1 6 contains 320 pins. 
Gum .—For gumming small insects on card some entomologists 
use gum-tragacanth, as it is not 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 ol being sold in metal tubes, so that it is portable. 
Card .—A hard white card or three- or four-sheet Bristol board 
should be used. 
Round Punch .—This should have a diameter of about | inch for 
cutting out circles of card the use of which is explained further on. 
A 20-bore gunwad-punch answers well. 
Larva-preserving Apparatus ,—This consists of spirit-lamp, small 
oven, and infiator. Instead of an oven a piece of copper gauze 
placed over the flame of the spirit-lamp answers very well. The 
whole apparatus can be obtained from entomological agents. 
Collecting. 
Besides those which may be caught on the wing with a butterfly- 
net, insects should be looked for on flowers, under bark of trees, in 
