332 



ELEMENTARY ENTOMOLOGY 



firmly to the stick with stout binding wire. The ring will be held 

 much more firmly if the ends of the wire are sharpened and again 

 bent at right angles and driven into the stick. Also, a groove cut in 

 either side of the stick for the reception of the wire will make it 

 much stouter. There are numerous other ways of constructing net 

 frames, but most of them are too complicated for practical use. 

 Many folding frames of various types may be obtained of entomo- 

 logical supply companies, but none of these are equal to the spring- 

 steel, folding landing nets sold by dealers in fish tackle. These 



may be obtained with a three-foot, jointed 

 handle, are nearly as light, and will 

 stand much more \vear than any of the 

 regular insect-net frames on the market. 

 The simplest and lightest net ring is that 

 of the simplex net (see Appendix) ; this 

 consists of a thin steel band which is 

 easily coiled up and carried in the pocket, 

 and readily attached to the handle. 

 Numerous materials are used in the 

 construction of the net itself. Mosquito 

 bar is sometimes used, but this lasts but 

 a short time and is too coarse to catch 

 small insects. A fine bobbinet is far 

 superior to the mosquito bar, as is also 

 cheesecloth. With any of these mate- 

 rials a hem of stout cotton cloth should 

 first be sewed to the net, through which 



to run the net frame. The net should be about eighteen inches in 

 depth, tapering nearly to a point. 



The net above described is to be used for all ordinary purposes, 

 such as catching butterflies, dragon flies, etc., but is scarcely suitable 

 for certain kinds of collecting. 



The sweeping net. This type of net is very similar to the one 

 just described, except that the frame is much heavier and the net 

 of stronger material, such as denim or canvas. It is used by sweep- 

 ing it back and forth rapidly over the tops of the bushes, through 

 long grass, weed patches, etc. After sweeping back and forth a 

 number of times, the net is given a half turn, which prevents the 



\l 



FIG. 467. A wire net frame 



