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Springtails and Fishmoths — Part 2

Collecting Forceps.--The entomologist skilled in the use of his fingers and who does not mind an occasional sting or bite does not need forceps, yet a small delicate pair made of steel or brass, very pliable and with rounded tips, is useful in picking up specimens and transferring them into vials and boxes. A little dodge which is used by many entomologists in picking up small insects is to slightly moisten the fore finger and touch it to the insect which will adhere long enough so that it can be dropped into the cyanide bottle, vial or pill box. A camel's-hair brush is sometimes used for the same purpose.

Fumigator.--This is a bit of apparatus used by European collectors and to some extent by those in this country. It is used for smoking out specimens which hide in cracks in the ground or holes in hard wood, etc. The accompanying figure shows the common form. A smoking-pipe mouth-piece (a) with flexible rubber-joint (b) is attached to the cover (c) of a very large smoking pipe head (d). To the mouth (e) of the latter a rubber hose (f) is attached, which has a convenient discharge at its end (g). The pipe is filled with tobacco, the latter ignited, the cover screwed on and the smoke blown through the mouth-piece in any desired direction. A puff of tobacco smoke blown gently over the debris on the collecting cloth will often make many specimens move which otherwise play possum.

Haversack.--A haversack of water-proof cloth is convenient but by no means indispensable. It should contain various compartments of different sizes for storing away nets, sieve, larger implements, boxes and vials.

Hand Lens.--A hand lens is quite necessary for field work with the smaller forms. Excellent hand lenses are now on the market and can be purchased from any dealer in microscope supplies.

Umbrella.--The umbrella is one of the most useful implements to the collector since he can collect with it insects which live upon the branches of trees and large bushes. Umbrellas constructed especially for entomological purposes have the inside lined with white linen and the handle has a joint near the middle so that it can be more conveniently held and more conveniently packed away. The opened and in verted umbrella is held with the left hand under the branch and with the right hand the collector beats the branch, jarring the insects into the convex umbrella cover.

Collecting Shears.--These are often used, the blades being composed of flat, net-like frames looking something like minute tennis rackets. They are useful for picking up delicate insects which would be apt to be damaged by the fingers or tweezers.