The Young Collector's Handbook of Ants, Bees, Dragon-flies, Earwigs, Crickets, and Flies (Hymenoptera, Neuroptera, Orthoptera, Hemiptera, Diptera). — Story, Setting & Ideas

THE YOUNG COLLECTOR'S

Ants, Bees, Dragon Flies, Earwigs, Crickets, and Flies

(_HYMENOPTERA_, _NEUROPTERA_, _ORTHOPTERA_, _HEMIPTERA_, _DIPTERA_).

LONDON: SWAN SONNENSCHEIN & CO., PATERNOSTER SQUARE.

Printed by Hazell, Watson, & Viney, Ld., London and Aylesbury.

Most boys have a fondness for forming collections of various objects, such as Foreign Stamps, Crests, and Coins; but very few comparatively collect Natural Objects. Now it will be admitted by all that the collecting of Natural Objects, such as Insects, Shells, Plants, Fossils, Minerals, etc., possesses immense advantages over that of Foreign Stamps and the like; for the former, besides satisfying the collecting ambitions, also cultivates the observant and intellectual faculties, while at the same time affording healthful recreation in the fields and woods.

Again, a mere collector's province may be exhausted in a few years, whereas the study and observation of Natural History, which are the usual "fruits" of collecting Natural Objects, are practically inexhaustible.

Another great advantage which Natural History possesses, is that it may be prosecuted with very little expense, and is therefore a subject which even the poorest person may conveniently undertake.

This little handbook is intended to be a "Guide to Collecting Insects," which by way of Natural History, we may remark, is becoming more popular every day in this country. Hitherto, however, there have been very few books published on Entomology for beginners, but for those who wish to go more deeply into the subject than the present brief manual can pretend, we would strongly recommend them to obtain Mr. Kirby's excellent illustrated "Text-Book of Entomology" (Swan Sonnenschein & Co.), to which work we are greatly indebted for much valuable and interesting information.

THE YOUNG COLLECTOR'S HANDBOOK

Ants, Bees, Dragon Flies, Earwigs, Crickets and Flies.

By the Linnæan system insects are divided into seven great Natural Orders--namely, Coleoptera, Orthoptera, Neuroptera, Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera, Hemiptera, and Diptera.

Of these, the Lepidoptera or Butterflies and Moths, and the Coleoptera or Beetles, have hitherto received the lion's share of attention, though this is less exclusively the case than it was some few years ago.

Any one who wishes to commence the study of these two orders now will have to work very hard indeed before he can hope to put anything new on record concerning them. There is, however, a very wide field for research and discovery open to all who will turn their attention to the other groups, and it is with the intention of encouraging the study of these "Neglected Orders" that we have written the present little handbook.

The orders which we here intend to treat of are the following:--

_The Hymenoptera_, including the Bees, Wasps, Ants, Saw Flies, Gall Flies, Ichneumon Flies, and their allies.

_The Neuroptera_, including the Dragon Flies, Day Flies, Lacewing Flies, Stone Flies, Caddis Flies, and their allies.

_The Orthoptera_, including the Grasshoppers, Locusts, Crickets, Cockroaches, Earwigs, and their allies.

_The Hemiptera_, including the Bugs, Skaters, Lantern Flies, Frog Hoppers, Aphides, and their allies.

_The Diptera_, including the Gnats, Midges, Crane Flies, Hawk Flies, Bee Flies, Breeze Flies, Bot Flies, and their allies.

The number of insects is so large (about 13,000 different kinds are found in our own country alone) that it will be found impossible by any one to collect the whole at once; and to study them all is completely out of the question. A single insect, indeed, is ample to occupy a whole lifetime in the elucidation of its life history. Most persons, when they commence to study insects, collect indiscriminately everything which comes in their way; but they soon find the subject too immense for them to grasp as a whole, and they either give up collecting altogether, or else confine their attention to a single group or order of insects. We would recommend every young person to make up his mind at the first which group or groups of insects he has a special fondness or liking for. Having done so, he will require to know the best means of attaining his object--namely, the formation of a collection. A few hints, therefore, as to the mode of collecting and preserving insects in general may be of assistance to the young collector.

First of all, as to the apparatus necessary for collecting insects.

This will be found very simple and inexpensive. A butterfly net is, perhaps, the most useful requisite. An ordinary cane-gauze net will do well. A good stock of chip pill-boxes will also be needed. These can be purchased from the shop of any Natural History dealer at about 3_d._ per dozen, nested (in four sizes).