REMARKS ON COLLECTING DIPTERA.
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as wasted ; the resulting specimens are more valuable from every point of view.
One of our leading entomologists said many years ago, with reference to the
Hymenoptera, "a well-set collection is worth a pilgrimage to see," and Mr.
Brunetti himself says (" Science Gossip," 1887, p. 56) "it cannot be denied that
a well-set specimen appears to better advantage in a cabinet, and can be ex-
amined with less difficulty than an unset one."—Ed.] :—
Remarks on collecting Diptera.
All the larger Diptera are easily captured by any ordinary "butterfly net,"
but, as in most cases their flight is very rapid, and consequently a very swift stroke
of the net is necessary, I always use an iron ring instead of a cane one ; in
fact an angler's folding landing net ring of about a foot in diameter. The
net is made of strong common white muslin, because most species are more
easily seen on or through white muslin than on coloured material ; the net should
be long enough to fold across the iron ring and leave about nine inches in addition in
which specimens might be examined through the net without any risk of their
escaping ; and the corners at the end of the net should be rounded off. After being
caught, most species from the Stratiomyidae onwards are best placed at once in a "cya-
nide" bottle, the exceptions being such downy species as Bombylius, Thereva, &c.
these latter had better be placed in small boxes until the time for killing arrives
at home ; of the Nematocera, scarcely any but Bibionidae will bear such rough
treatment, but all the Tipulidae and allied families are brought home best in chip
boxes, and Chironomidae and Mycetophilidae, &c., in small glass tubes (contain-
ing six or eight specimens in each tube), and killed when ready to label and
set.
When returned to my headquarters, my first proceeding is to write on a
number of labels the locality and date of my captures ; of course the number more
or less represents the number of specimens that I think I have caught during the
day ; for families mainly consisting of small species I use a round 3/8-inch label,
and for larger groups a 5/8-inch label, punched from old white half-sheets of note
paper. I then deal with the dead specimens in the "cyanide" bottle and pro-
ceed to clear them off ; each specimen is pinned up to about half-way up the pin,
and then the label is attached below, through about its middle, the plain side
uppermost; the label is then pushed up near the specimen, and the legs are
drawn out on the label which acts as a sort of setting board ; often in smaller
species the wings can be drawn out the same way or left extended upwards so as
to be perfectly exhibited ; in larger species the wings should be held out between
cardboard clips, just as with humble-bees, until set firm and dry. Next, to deal
with those brought home alive ; Tipulidae, &c., should be killed in the "cyanide"
bottle three or four at a time, because, if they are to be set and yet retain their
legs, they must be set within a few minutes of death, sometimes, as in Dolichopeza
sylvicola, within one minute of death. They should be set just as a Pterophorus is
set by a lepidopterist, and they well repay the trouble, because a nicely set series
of a Tipula is an ornament to any collection, and accentuates specific distinctions ;
I like to see legs and wings widely extended, although I know it becomes expen-
sive on account of the cabinet space required. The smaller Nematocera are best
set neatly on their labels without any further assistance ; in 1888 1 set about 3,000
Chironomidae, all pinned under a lens, then adjusted to a label, and then set under
the lens on that label ; it was a high trial to my eyes, considering that most of it
was done by candle-light, but my eyes have survived it, and my specimens are