146 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [April, 'l6 



the end of the net proper. The frame-work of this (see figure 

 3) is constructed of light weight, flexible metal and covered 

 with gauze, preferably of a transparent quality. The re- 

 mainder of the net may be made of any suitable material such 

 as is ordinarly used for butterfly nets. 



The net is used in the usual manner, but the addition of 

 the specimen chamber secures the following advantages. It 

 permits the collector to catch a number of insects simul- 

 taneously or in succession without danger of mutilation or 

 rubbing. In other words, the insects are free to fly to a certain 

 extent while still in the net. By reason of this the rubbing 

 and crushing actions of the folds in an ordinary net are avoid- 

 ed. With a net of this kind, the operator can also readily 

 introduce a cyanide jar without danger of the insects escaping. 

 On account of the spaciousness of the specimen chamber, the 

 jar can be easily moved about inside and the insects gently 

 tapped into it. 



For arc light collecting, it is impossible to overstate the ad- 

 vantages of a net of this kind. It is not at all clumsy to handle, 

 the additional weight of the specimen chamber, (diam. i ft., 

 height, 6 in.) being negligible. Mr. Mead has used such a net 

 for the past several years and has collected many specimens 

 so perfect that he has been accused of breeding them. 



Figure i is a view of the net in perspective ; figure 2, a view 

 in perspective on a smaller scale showing the net in position 

 to retain a captured specimen ; figure 3, a view showing the 

 form of the structure for insuring the dilation of the specimen 

 chamber, and figure 4 illustrates the operator with a cyanide 

 jar introduced in the net. 



A smaller cylindrical net for capturing microlepidoptera is 

 shown in figure 6, this being five or six inches in diameter and 

 eight to ten inches high. Figure 5 shows the light weight, 

 flexible metal frame which is covered with fine gauze as shown 

 in figure 6. Figure 7 shows the net grasped with the hand 

 so as to form a special chamber into which the cyanide bottle 

 can be thrust and the specimen removed in as good a condi- 

 tion as when it entered the net. 



