The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-10-04

bag seize it by the body below the
wings. Never under any ciroum-
stances, take hold of the wings. Stun
the insect by giving it's body slight
pinch, or by dropping a little chloro-
form on its head Then fold it in a
piece of paper or small envelope and
place. in a cyanide jar, leaving it there
for an hour or more.
a fruit jar or jelly glass will make
satisfactory apparatus. Place one
half ounce of potassium cyanide in the
bottom of the jar, sprinkle with a lit
tie water cover with a thin layer of
cotton, arrange a suitable cover, and
the outfit is complete. 1t is not adj
visable to place many specimens loose
ly in the cyanide jar at the same time.
In packing large specimens which are
to be kept any length of time before
mounting, it is well to place a piece
of paper between the wings.
To mount lepidoptera, pin each in
sect upside down on a smooth piece Of
wood or a sheet of cork covered with
glazed paper. Draw the front wings
up with the point of a pin so that their
upper edges form a right angle with
the axis of the body. Then draw up
the hind wings so as to leave a small
space between the outer edges of the
front and back wings. Hold them In
place by inserting a fine-pointed pin
pin strips of paper across the wings
to keep the edges from curling. Fast
en- the antennae in place with pins,
otherwise they will become displaced in
drying. Leave the insect on the board
until it's body becomes firm. Always
withdraw the pins from butterflies be-
fore drying.
Moths, bees. dragon flies, grasshop-
pers and spiders may be treated in
the same waV.
From a scientific standpoint 1t is in
teresting to mount specimens with the
larva, cocoon, etc, thus showing the
life history This is an especially de-
sirable way for children to do, as it
is an incentive to collect and study
the wonders of nature which the hth-
erto imperfect and expensive means
have made unattractiVe.
The botanical specimens, instead Of
being crushed between the leaves of
a specimen press thereby running the
natural appearance of the blossoms,
may be carefully preserved by this
new method.
Spread a sheet Of absorbent cotton
over a layer of folded newspapers;
then place the plant or flower which
you wish to press. on the cotton, with
the side down which you wish to show
uppermost in the mount. The delicate
parts of the flower are thus preserved
instead of being crushed as when
the, ordinary method is used. The
fiatfaced flowers, such as daisies. may
be placed face up.
Several layers Of plotting or news
paper should be placed on top OF the
cotton after the leaves and petals of
the plant are in the desired position.
Successive layers may be arranged In
this manner, and not too heavy
weight placed on top of the pile.
Great care should be taken that the
weight is not sufficient to crush the
plant out of shape. The latter should
be transferred to another dry layer
before final mounting. Roots of plants
should be washed thoroughly before
pressing. After they are pressed
mount as soon as possible.
AS to the pictures, arrange to suit
| your own taste.
The sight of the gaily-colored fields
is denied to some always, and 10
others more fortunate only an occa-
sional glimpse is afforded. By such
| these pictures win be doubly apDre-
ciated as ornaments for parlor studio
| or den during the winter months when
! the outside world is locked in the en-
brace of Jack Frost.
Children are especially appreciative
Of these pictures. and many an hour
viii be beguiled by them in mounting
and framing their treasures in passe-
partout, which they can soon be taught
to do neatly, if some experienced
older one will give them a little help.