FIELD BOOK OF INSECTS. 



Mention of insect collecting immediately suggests a 

 net. For the capture of adult butterflies, moths and other 

 delicate, flying creatures this should be of the lightest 

 possible material. Fine Brussels net or bobinet is used 

 for the larger sizes (i to 2 ft. in diameter) and silk veiling 

 for the pocket sizes. The depth of this net should be at 

 least twice the diameter of its rim so that, when an insect 

 is caught, a twist will fold the bag against the rim and 

 leave the insect imprisoned in the lower end of the bag. 

 The beginner is apt to choose too long a handle and can 

 then take only long slow strokes even if he avoids getting 

 all mixed up with the vegetation and interfering with 

 his fellow collectors. Three feet is long enough for a 

 handle. 



The sweeping net should be made of stout, white muslin, 

 or light duck, on a strong rim well fastened to a handle of 

 such a length that the user can just touch the ground with 

 the rim of the net without stooping. The diameter of the 

 net depends somewhat on the strength of the user and its 

 depth may be from \y 2 to 2 times its diameter. It is 

 used to sweep blindly through grass, bunches of flowers, 

 light bushes, etc., in a fairly certain expectation of getting 

 something. Much of the material will be damaged by the 

 rough handling, but it is the quickest way to get large 

 numbers of specimens, and the only way to get certain 

 things quickly. The tendency seems to be to make the 

 handle of the sweep net too short, some on the market 

 being only 6 in. long. These do not tire the arm so much 

 as nets with longer handles, but you either miss the insects 

 living near the ground or you get a very tired back. One 

 useful trick in sweeping is to have a small cushion of 

 cotton, covered with cheese-cloth or muslin, and a bottle 

 of chloroform or ether. After sweeping for a few minutes 

 moisten the cushion with the anesthetic, drop it into the 

 net, and quickly twist up the bag so that the fumes are 

 confined. In a short time even the liveliest grasshopper 

 will be asleep and can be picked out and either saved or 

 rejected. If rejected, they will all shortly revive and 

 walk, hop, or fly away. The cushion is not strictly 

 necessary as the chloroform may be put directly on the 

 net after the insects are folded in the bottom. 



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