82 HINTS TO YOUNG ENTOMOLOGISTS. 



1. The Clap-net, Bat-fowling net, or Batfolder, may be had at the fishing-tackle 



shops (where called Butterfly traps), may be made of Musqueto gauze, and 

 one of the rods used as a walking-stick. White for day and green at 

 night. 



2. Forceps, a pair of toupee irons or curling tongs, will do very well, with a net 



or rackett fixed at the end of each tong with binding wire or small twine 

 well-waxed. The Germans use a much larger and longer pair of forceps, 

 having leaves of ten or twelve inches in diameter, for taking Lepidoptera 

 settled. 

 In one edition of Peter Pindar, Sir Joseph Banks is represented as hunting 

 the " Emperor of Morocco" with a net like this. 



3. Tongs (called Crane-necked at the Surgeon's Instrument-makers) or Forceps, 



for securing insects armed with stings, and for dipping and killing large 

 Moths, &c. (with the wings up), in boiling water. 

 Miss Jermyn recommends a " Casting-Net," viz. tie a weight (a halfpenny 

 for instance) in one of the corners of a piece of gauze (size of a handkerchief), 

 a lighter weight in the second corner, and a bit of light wood in the third ; 

 fix a piece of twine a yard or two long at the remaining corner. It may 

 be thrown and drawn in at pleasure. Harris recommends a large sheet 

 and long pole for larvae. 



4. A Ring or Racket Net is formed of wire about the size of a Raven's quill, 



turned round to a circle, bending the ends outwards by way of shanks, 

 which are made fast in a brass socket ; this ring is covered with gauze and 

 bound round with ferret ; a round stick of two feet in length serves as a 

 handle. A pair of these, six inches diameter, is very useful. 



5. A Hoop, Sweeping, Water or Landing-Net. — I procured one from Chapman, 



York, made of iron-hoop, the net made of white canvass, and fastened with 

 wire to the middle of the hoop, the sharp edge admirably adapted for cutting 

 through Thistles, Nettles, &c, in brushing herbage, and thereby not injuring 

 the canvass as when fastened round by a welt. If a hinge be made it may 

 be folded up, and the handle may be made like a parasol-handle. If a welt 

 is used for the water-net, the inside should be painted and made very 

 stout, to prevent rust, and with a moveable tin tube, or it may be made to 

 screw on at the end of an umbrella. 



6. EltingsaWs Dublin Landing-Nut, used by anglers, is made of Whale-bone, 



and net fastened with wire or waxed string to the middle of the Whale-bone 

 like the last net, the sharp edge not wearing the net by coming in contact 

 with weeds, Brambles, &c. There should be two nets, one for sweeping, 

 made of white canvass, and the other of gauze for flying insects. — The 

 Whale-bone part when shut up is very portable, and one stick may be used 



