,
I
!
ll
i '
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ftimtiftc.
OOmOTIlCO INSBOTS.
Koh to Collect, Pmenr, aud Trans
port Them.
J laving frequently, In years past,
Invited our correspondents In various
parts of the world to collect and send
to us Insects, wo now proposo to give
them brief but plain instructions in
regard to tho simplest modes of col
lecting iiiifl transporting, in every
and garden vegetables, and those of l
some of the beetles are equally n
iii-nii iici i vc, wiiiiu nogs in various
species are the posts of our fields.
'1 hero are aNo cannibal beetles and
bugs as well a, v.irioiis parasitic In
sects which aid In checking tho in-1
crease of certain species, and the'
habits of all thoo must bo known ifj
wo are to work undorstnndingly and
lu harmony with natural laws, audi
inorony assist our menus in ucslroy
fng our enemies.
'I'hi! farmer and gardener should
be particuluily interested in the sci
ence of Kntnuiology, Inasmuch as
they are constantly brought Into
cloe eoiilai't with tho-o very beings
of whleli we know - little, but
should desire lo Know mote. Knto
niology, as a science, Is certainly at
tracting more attention in this coun
try, at tlic pro-cut time, than ever
before; but It would advance far
moro rapidly If every man, woman,
and child would only do what the.
could, however trilling that might
be, Instead of leaving the entire
work ton few, who are so ovoi taxed
that their labors iniit neccsirily be
very Incomplete.
It should niit he cnu-Idered as la
bor or an Ilk-nine task by any one to
collect a fiw In-ects and forward
them to a scleutille institution, or to
an individual w ho may be spending
his time and money In endeavoring
lo enrich science and beuelll man
kind. There are i-cnrcs of men who
have traveled the world over, but
never experienced tho pleasure or
received the honor of contributing
as much us one grain of sand to (lie
welfare of mankind or the advance
of science. The very butteiilles,
mothi, or oilier IiimtIs which con
stantly crowed (heir path would have
been mine highly appreciated by
some cutomologlM than the iuil
precious mluer.il. I'ioitccr In our
new States and Territories, and trav
eler In foieign countries, should not
be negligent, but should observe the
habits of local species of Insects, and
forward specimen to us whenever
convenient.
Cm. i 1 1 iini. Arriii ". To el
led insect rapidly in Mimmcr, a net
of Mime Mud i ipiito indispensable.
In l'ig. I, two I'm ids of nets me
shown; is made of common mils
lln, or cambric, and about a foot lu
diameter, and is indies long, and is
used for sweeping busho1, weeds, or
1'K.nti. I.
dragging over the grass, where bun.
dineiis of Insects mnv bo taken with
n net. which would not otherwise be
round, 'rheother net.., s ninili. of
ueiiiug or nun gaue; a common
mosquito netting w ill answer, aud it
1 used for taking butterllles, moths,
ami other Insects on the wing. These
nets can be purchased lu our large
cities, but oiu that will answer every
puiHse for the amateiircaii bo made
of any strong wire bent to form a
hoop, and the two ends driven Into
the end of a stick four to siv feet
long, that will answer for a handle.
conn ry ana locality l.uro are insects material that will hold them (Irmly f " ' '.n'gTro kked either in
which Interest tho cntomologls ,andt tho bottom and not prevent the JaliKt o? Jm1m7 roll in sof Nu
persons who linvo no knowledge or poisonous fumes reaching the Insects , VioP onrtSilSe wl h each a small
hesubjecnnnydomuchtowanrahl- j , killed. If this cannot bo "If ' ,' S,! or , i , IhS .. X
ing Investigation. If they will collect tlnel, uso ether, chloroform, gum J 'H ' hV' Vlb K.rX ink
fiMfeft S'J" HIE!!"!'! "X. willed S bo obHtKdVhcn
to " "" ' " "mtY "m, "'.'ft" u V ' i'r'T' wottcul, hut a pencil mark will re-
Tlmlnrvio of butterlllesand moths ifffho rv fe IM
iir,.v .,... .... ...- ui.niiw .,r,.ii.u i .;'?.... V". ...... ' J.V. . ".i . ..i i slant .v iiiiiiicr.ed III spirits. If it is
i .T ll"'ll UMI l V. V uiiiiiiiii millll t III III1L 111 II II'IV 'Ml III II lllllk.ll III! Will
jT " . .
noticed that the fnmt side Is straight, n, ' V L 'V.ii,.. ,T. u, W" ,,,.lM,'l, 'VV1 ". tlotm,H wist f t' handle, anil
the taper being entirely from the' V, ... ,?.i V. ' l '" V" ,lu t,.1,,',il,0 lVhy bi-curo tho buttrlly in a jh)
kick to the front. This form Is far! "? '' r' "Ml "' " V'1 hy .'"i1"' . rUi."" wlu'ro U i"'ot dlstlguro itself
lu tuo llrst or .sweep net it will bo
belter lor this kind of a net than to f " "T "... " v,lV ,,wl "J"
have It a regular cone, Inasmuch a ' "" T., ," V ' "r. 1 "f
arethiowii loiwaid Into the point, ':"l Inuirl.ibly arrived lu good pressing so tlrmly as to kill or be
and held there iiiore securely than, or,!lii.r ,..,, .v n . ... ',lK "" ")! of ether or chlo-,
they would be If the smallest part1 ,, V" il ?ii i l(illll.,t.,,u't,,Hl '!f f""" l'"!! 1h "lll!od with a camel's
was exactly in the center. !.. .,?.,?.,.. .1...1? u,ko V" '"dr penc 1. A small vial of chloro-'
.. I"-'"' "'I'l'io plank one or to Indie form can bo carried In tho vest pock-
Kn.i.iMi IHJtw and 1Ii:i.ti.i.-; square, niul of the proper length; ct, to bo usetl for this purpose when
All ho harder kinilof lusec s, such Into this two n hole lengthways of ever required. A slight crushing of
us Hectics iawtmi) and lugs, the gmln, and Just largo enough to tho thomx, however, will usually bo
(iraiitj)trnt), which have firm wing- adnj t tho vial to 1 used, as shown sutllciont to kill anv butterfly and
cases may ho preserved for almost In llg. a. The. Insects aro sent In the wo prefer this method to wotting e
any length of time in spirits, such alcohol or spirits, and tho vlalshould body even -with the mast "ohi e
s alcohol or whisky. Some liottlos I be corked tight; also the s,ice in tho , liquid. If tho butterflies aro to ho
u imn mvi ittmiitir iiimiir nm iiik.i.ito "."--, i " .. ... nm iiiiiiiiii-i. nun uiiii nit: iiiuiiiu mill mm mirror
with wide mouths should ho nrovld-
I'd. mill these it'irllv illloil u'ltli milr.
Its. Illtd which fliit lirw.llf.u mwl lillirj
may ho put as soon as caught. Vials wrapped and directed. This is the
holding two or three ounces will umi- safest way of sending minute speci
ally bo most convenient to carrv in mens, ns well as large ones, by mail,
the pocket or collecting bag. Knto- although tho weight of tho alcohol Is
mologlsts uso glass tubes similar to gieater than that of the sawdust,
tho one shown in Fig. 2, as these and the postago more In proportion,
may he emptied more readily than vnunrnrvn siivtvrN-s It often
vliil. .nvi.fliiii. iflll. T. M.I., .,.,.nr
..'". "..""." .: v -:."
corK, paper, couon, or any similar
.
Km.
blotting paper to aborb any liquid
elected by tho in-ects, and prevent '
their discoloration. The tube shown i
lu Klg.
lecting
2 is ono wo have used for col-
our ordinary beetles, allho'
not largo enough for all spech
in
vuia. lemur, ctiiiun. nr nnv Hiiiumr ...m ' "... i if
w
I PV
Km. 3.
" ,
couiiiiioii, especially n sent a long i
distance, is to send them in alcohol!
I
III
cor
fa
llll
ii ine.vare lo in sent liv exnn
I similar mode of transportation, the
bottle should be enclosed lu lino
hay, grass, (!r other soft material.
mid then enclosed In a strong box.
ThN, of course, Is only necessary
w lien a largo nmuoor isent. and a
"K ", ; ' ml wl.u'ro u Mn,,u
,,1",,H1l,lii .'i "'""Vl11 ,ar,t.,
'u ' T lAu'yr,,i,i,,y !.H' M,,,t hy ll,nH
i ii..:. i ... .. '
Select a few .strong tin boxes, hold-
ing a gill or more, according to tho
number of insects to be sent away;
get some tine saw dust; now take the
beetles out of tho spirits aud put a
layer in the bottom of tho Ikix; then
till up all interMlces between with
with sawdust: then nut In mom boo.
' "V "' ,nl " ihiiiut
cs, and so on In alter nate layers nil-
til tin box Is tilled. The bov should
be full, to prevent any moving nUiut
and
moaning oi us content. The
whole shoul
il lu riilli.il In .. ii. j. I !...!
inn
the
the bottom, r, is a little cotton situ-' tho little tiger beetles (Cfciiitlttax)
rated with ben'.lne; a thin piece of freiiuent sandy roads and bairen
cork Is put lu to hold the cotton in Held. The ground beetles (('((ra
ils place and prevent small .species tiltltw) aro usually found under tlat
from crawling Into it and becoming stones, on hill sides, and especially
entangled in the liber. Any other near brooks aud rivers, while others
form of vial can be Used instead, but aie more abundant under old logs, or
the beetles .should not be allowed to between the looe hark and wood; In
leniain any longer than is actually fact, there is no place, from the bald
ucw'ss.iry in the dry bottle, but rock on the mountain, to the lowe-t
.should be emptied into the Juts or depths of the most gloomy cavern,
larger bottles of alcohol orothersplr- that is not the abode of some insect.,
its, and kept there until required for Our rivers aud stagnant ponds also
mounting or transporting to oiiu funiMi numerous species, from
other locality. whence they may be taken with
How to lii- wi sJink Mrr "L'ts or by hand. Asa rule, the more
ti..:s a.m. HiW-Tlu. hum eertalul;11,'1'1-;'1.!1'0 lwUvt!io moro rare;
way of preserving: specimens in ,md I ' 'V'1 d; for " (T, liv ,1a"tl foKa'
. n.i'. . ."..' . . ""' hli' In iivnnsiwl sltii'illiiiw np tlui
ii packing large Ih1 les and ars. ee 1 r""? " "'!
nit they are corked tight and tho)" "' Ln7l i. ,jqn.i i " V,ct,,0iw
IK tied lu; or, what is better, , " V . , ,., "" " ',, ""Kl ', ar.f
stoned with eoiiiieror ini.s- 'i,, ! ". overlook the small ones; but tho
a good strong Vord. will answer: ";Ml$X";
ss nr I
WILLAMETTE FABMEB,
r with n!
en It from
ease should he flllcd cither
fnrl.- nr tililf nf wood to keen
t'nlllllir nllf. Tllll IKH'kllL'O Is tllOU
"ecussnry w iiuuiuui wiu ;i'w -
is to number
mens, retaining ono or more of each
ideslrablo to nln the specimens re
I tained, always thrust the pin through
I tho right wing case, near tho Insldo
ledge, and nt a point where It will
ia-s between the second and third
pair of legs, ns shown In Fig. I, ,
leaving enough of the pin above to
I
take hold of conveniently; usually ,
about three-eighths of an inch Usui-1
llcient. Smaller species may be
i gummed upon little lance-shaped
pallets, or pasteboard. '
In mounting most other kinds of
Insects, tho pin should be thrust
1 through the middle of tho thorax. !
Wur.iti: to Fink 1)i:i:ti.!'.s ash'
Hi'fis. In summer, beetles and bugs
1 aro very abundant upon weeds aud '
I plants, and this Is tho seasun to uso'
I the sweep or drag net. Hundreds of
small but Interesting species lurk tin
der the leaves of plants, or feed upon
their tlowors, and tho net is the most
rapid and siiro means of bringing
them from their hidlng-plncc. I.ar-
ger species may bo found sunning
thenielves upon the bark of trees.
iiiirw tr iiiuin riiii nirni iiiiumi iimiiim
Y?:. i r;,i " " V. ""i "".I-' . )':.!..i: '
. . , f, ,"." , v, v n
" !,st lk ,0 ,m wt1 owii. The
destructive Insects to vegetation aro
among tho smallest; therefore, col-1
lectors should not neglect to take the I
small as well as large.
lU'Trr.Hri.ir-s. Huttorllios, or
what are usually termed Diurmil
(day-tlylng) l.cwtojitcrit, are readily
distinguished from moths by their
knobbed antenna-, although in some
species this characteristic is not verv
coilsiiletlotls. Their lioillns nm sin. ill
lu proportion to tho size of their
wings, which aro usually held erect
when in repose. It requires far more
care to collect liuttertlles and pre-
servo them in a perfect condition
than beetles or bugs, as their bodies
are covered with very minuto scale's
which urn torn nir i.v id., .it,.i, ..,..
pressure. In capturing them, tho
net should nlwuvs be used, anil tho
moment one passes within throw the
bottom of t he liac over tin. I, ...... i.
.. il.kviisitu ....I... ..r .i... i .. '.
in us struggles to escape; then grasp
it by the under side of tho thorax,
'!(!. I.
. I .1.'..) .... ...V ....kV. 'U.l.V. ... IIIU ..IVIL
put immediately into a cabinet, they
may 1k pinned as caught; but when
ed for sonio time before mounting,
they should bo carefully taken out of
tho net and placed in papers, as
ulinitMi In Klf. fi.
Any smooth writing papers -
swer the purpose, and, before going
....f n ,. fi...i. ii iiiiantitv should be
"""" " ?. ... ...III ..
cut up Into pieces n llttlo longer than
broad, and varying In size from two
to four or flvo inches, and then fold
ed ns shown in Fig. 0, fornilng. when
finished, a triangular-shaped bag,
Fig. 0.
into which tho butterfly is dropped
head downward. Tho antcniue (),
or feelers, should bo folded back be
tween tho wings, or at least close to
tho front edge, in order to securo
them against being broken after
they liavo become dry and brittle.
If a record is kept of captures, tho
date, locality, or number of speci
mens, may bo written on the outsido
of tho envelope, always using a soft
lead pencil for this purpose. These
llttlo paper bags containing speci
mens of butterflies may bo laid away
lu light boxes, or sent to any part of
tiio world by mall or through other
channels of transit. It Is natter to
have the envelopes a little too largo
than too small, because it is quite
Important that tho wings should re
main Hat, and their edges not folded
or broken.
Moths. Collecting moths is main
ly night work, although many spe
cies can bo captured during tho day
time or early in tho morning or eve
ning. The larger kinds should al
ways be taken with a net, and the
same care exercised In handling as
with butterllles. Having largo and
heavy bodies, they are not readily
killed, and a slight pinching of tho
. "..-..
lori,x. r cven.tnrusting a
pin
through them, will not nnswer.
Chloroform or other, if nnnlled
to the surface, will only stupefy for a
few moments, and a moro summary
method is reouired for dispatching
our large Sphinges or Hawk moths
(Klg. ii); but smaller kinds, as
shown in Klg. 7, are moro delicate,
aud killed almost Instantaneously bv
Fio. 7.
placing lu a box or under an invent
ed glass, containing a drop of any of
tho various substances wo liavo
named. To kill tho larger species
while In tho net, wo liavo found no
lietter way than to ininctiiro tho body
or thorax with a sharpened quill or
sliver of wood, and then dip it into
moistened cyanldo ofnottwsium, nnd
again thrust the poisoned Implement
Into tho wound. It requires verv
llttlo of this poison to produco almost
instant death. Chloroform, other, or
benzlno, may be used instead, or the
moth may bo pinned in n tight Ikix
and killed with tho fumes of sul
phur, tobacco, creosote, or other nox
ious and poisonous substances.
When tho moths aro killed, their
wings and antennio should bo folded
In the same manner tw described for
butterllles, nnd then placed lu tho
paper bags. Very small moths, such
as aro caught about the lamp at
at night, may bo laid carofully be
tween layers of soft paper, their
wings remaining in a natural posl-
Mnli HMwi itnits ii. ..I yil. ........ I.. . ....
tlou.
....vj vwu..u ...... iiirj.suiiiis ui
I
I L j . 1
!
Imccts ni.iy uImi bo collected mt
allowed tolliiNi tholrtnn .fori nt"on
n boxes, when; t lit, perfect insect 0r
Imago can readily be captured.
Inhkcm or ()tiii:u Ounrits
Kile.", ii, (irasihoDiit'M. r'viiT
ets Moos, Dr.igon-Ilios mwl ..r."
( , ,. t , , k). ."',
,, v: wiw,,1b )1ItUw nlrl u" !i,,B
' ;.....i i ... i. . "K.'ul. tic-
iii.i nuraiiK mimes nire.UiV iln
, si.ii'mi . umi irn Ii.. .... .. , y "?
taike, packed in sun vials Vim!
very little line sawdust, ",,,1 Vi
whole moistened with a fuw ,irn'L
!of ether. Kvery collector 1m, i
iiri'V' n ft.w sm.i I ..III - ....,,,"l,l
wooden match boxes in his tm.i.vri1
,. . -w. 11 til' I'lllltii-...
for the pu
iirpoo of keenlnii-Biuw.i...- ''
linens
llf n.
oi uisecis oeiongmg to UHrernnf
. . . . t...i n 'r"-"iieii
dors, separate,
as well ns i ..". ,
tne nece
sslty of nuttlnir ' " '
of ono
kind of tho tenders. ,?
nlifnltit....
too many of one species, because on.
tomologlsts not only derive much
lii;u,uiu ii urn uisu mining rare In.
sects among their friends, but It u
highly important that every cabinet
both public and private, should be
as complete una contain as ninny
species as possible. The heads of
families should not overlook the fitt
null. uii ini-ii viiuuruil WHO Clia0
tho butterflies, play klto with the
btimblo bee, or harness the luzv
beetle to n stick, may do eomothlnL'
towards aiding science and placing
scientific men under obligations to
tliom for favors. It is far better to
tench children how to bo useful
assistants to learned men In vari
ous parts of tho world, than
to remain in ignorance of their
names or abode. Tho farther
away from the centers of civili
zation n family may reside, the more
interesting will their surroundings
bo to the naturalist, and tho more
valuable tho specimens collected.
To (lie Header.
Having In the foregoing remarks
endeavored to point out some of the
most simple methods of collecting,
preserving, mid transporting insects,
1 would bo pleased to receivo anv
specimens which you may send tb
me. My llrst tiiolco would bo Hec
tics, ns 1 make this order n specially,
but liuttertlles and other insects
would also be acceptable, with what
ever notes upon their habits vou mnv
choose to send.
Whenever specimens aro sent bv
mail. I will return tho amount n.iill
In postage, ifdesired; and shall aUo
hold myself in readiness to return
an equivalent in kind or otherwise
lor rare specimens rrom any part of
the world.
Letters and nackaires nnv bo nil.
dressed to my ollleo in New York
City; but I would prefer to liavo tho
Insects sent direct to my country
residence ntltiilgcwood, UergonCo.,
Now Jersey.
Axdrkw S. Fl'M.lIIl,
Arli'iillunil Kdllurof WttUj Sun, cor. Sanma
ii nn rriMMori Mieui", .Mnv ion.; ainoAMO-
liiilu 1'iMtur urMiHirn
v i tiit rut .vi
w I'wtr.
IlitAiN Woitnv. Many of us pray
to bo delivered from sudden death,
and do wo worry ourselves into It?
If wo do, can we help it? To most of
us it is not given to choose our lives,
to avoid the rough places, to gently
shoulder to ono side disagreeable
facts. Wo must climb over tiio rocks
though they hurt us sore, and tho
dllllculties, however they mavaiinoy
us must bo met with brain fret and
wear until they are conquered, or we
have passed them. They aro as real,
living, annoying as any tangible ache
or pain dould bo; as bruising and
irritating as tho peas in tho shoes of
tho pilgrims of old. Nervous health
Is ono thing, and moral health and
purely physical health Is qtilto an
other and different thing. Calm ami
steady mental work is conducive to
long life ; but nervous emotion, men
tal work that is a constant urging,
mid, at tho sumo time, is an unhang
ing, of the oven tenor of tho mind,
eats away the brain faster than anv
mental labor, no matter how hard,
that is systematic. As men do not
really die of heart disease as often as
Is supposed, but of apoplexy, or con
gestion of the lungs, so they do net
dlo of bruin work, but bruin worry.
Scott dlod of it, Southey, Swift,
Ilonico Greely, and probably Tliack.
cray. London Timet.
together. Is either should tlio,o who
are collectingspecimens to bo sent n
a distant part of tlio world or our own
country, be tearful of
Fjo. (5.
ii.