BULLETIN 39, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. [34] 



as a cloth on which to sift or examine fungi, rnoss, pieces of bark, etc., aud 

 since the cloth is always tightly expanded, it offers a smooth and level 

 surface, where examination of various objects can be made with ease 

 and accuracy. 



FIG. 53. The umbrella beating and sweeping net (original). 



Tin Umbrella Net. A very convenient form of net for both sweep- 

 ing and for use in place of an umbrella for beating has been de- 

 vised by Dr. George Marx. (See Fig. 53.) It is constructed from an 

 old umbrella, as follows : To the handle of the umbrella are attached 

 two steel rods working on hinges at the apex of the umbrella, as do the 

 ordinary umbrella ribs, and attached to the sliding piece of the umbrella 

 in the same manner, as shown at a. These rods should be about l'i 

 feet long. When the sliding piece is pushed up and caught behind the 

 spring clip, as shown at 6, a circular loop is formed giving the frame- 

 work for the net. The latter, which should be comparatively shallow, 

 is made of stout muslin and sewed to the frame, as in the ordinary 

 sweeping net. The enlarged drawings c and fl illustrate clearly the 

 manner of constructing the frame. The advantage of this net is its con- 

 venience in carrying and its general usefulness, taking the place of both 

 the umbrella and the sweeping net. When not in use the frame is 



