ix] ACULEATE HYMENOPTERA 119 



the other hand the solitary species begin work at 

 about 9 or 10 a.m. and begin to "knock off" quite 

 early in the afternoon, so that by 4 or 5 p.m. very 

 few are to be observed. 



As a weapon of attack an ordinary butterfly net 

 mounted on a short handle is sufficient ; though for 

 taking specimens off flowers, especially of brambles 

 and thorny shrubs, a small net provided with a cir- 

 cular lid capable of closing the mouth of the net-bag 

 is very convenient. The net-ring and its lid of gauze 

 stretched on a second metal ring should be mounted 

 respectively on two metal arms crossed and pivoted 

 together like a pair of large scissors, and the ends of 

 the arms should be provided with the thumb-hole and 

 finger-hole so that the whole apparatus can be used 

 in one hand. It is, however, often possible to pick the 

 specimen off' a flower with the finger and thumb when 

 a little experience has been gained in the offensive 

 value of the stings. Having caught "my hare' I 

 usually transfer it to a small glass tube whose cork 

 has been moistened -at its inner end with a drop of 

 chloroform before setting out : several specimens 

 may safely be placed in the same tube, but care 

 must be taken that the moisture which evaporates 

 from their bodies does not condense on the sides 

 of the tube, and cause the hairs covering the insects' 

 bodies to become matted together. The best way of 

 preventing this disfigurement is, after a short time, 



