HOW TO COLLECT DIPTERA 
(TWO-WINGED ELIES), 
WITH NOTES ON THE HABITS OE THE PERFECT 
INSECTS AND LARVAE. 
List of Articles Required. 
An entomologist's collecting-net. —This can be obtained from any 
dealer in natural-history apparatus. Any net used for collecting 
butterflies will do for Diptera ; but, on the whole, perhaps an ordinary 
umbrella-net will be found the most serviceable. One or two spare 
net-bags should be taken in case the one in use gets torn. 
Two dozen glass-bottomed cardboard pill-boxes (assorted sizes, up to 
2| inches in diameter, packed in nests one inside another). [See p. 51.) 
One or two cyanide killing-bottles , not too large to be carried in the 
pocket when required; or a larger-sized cyanide killing-jar, or 
materials for making same, as follows : | lb. of cyanide of potassium, 
1 lb. of plaster ot Paris, a glass jar with wide mouth and closely 
fitting lid. ( See p. 51.) 
Entomological forceps (two pairs). ( See p. 53.) 
Fine-pointed forceps (one or two pairs) : these are useful for 
arranging the legs and wings of specimens when pinned. 
Needles (two or three) mounted in handles, —also for arranging le (r s 
1 • ' 7 O O & 
and wings. 
Entomological pins (D. F. Tayler & Co., New Hall Works, 
Birmingham), Nos. 5 (Is. Gd. per ounce), 10 (3s. Gd. per ounce), 16 
(Is. per ounce), and 20 (7s. Gd. per ounce). The No. 20 pin should 
be used for all but the very largest Diptera, such as Horse-flies 
(labanidse) and Robber-flies (Asilidce); as it is exceedingly fine, an 
ounce will go a very long way. (See pp. 53-51.) 
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