408 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [Nov., 'lO 



be done before either the cone or pocket is sewn up along 

 edges "B ;" but your mother, wife, sister, or lady friend 

 who has any idea of dressmaking can easily make such a net 

 after a little study of the drawings. 



First in use, and of most importance in the collecting para- 

 phernalia, is the net. The form I use was first suggested 

 to me by Prof. C. W. Woodworth, of the California Agri- 

 cultural Experiment Station at Berkeley, California, and is 

 designed only for sweeping in which it excels all others in 

 the collecting of Micros. It should be made of closely woven 

 goods, such as bolting cloth, muslin, or any similar good ma- 

 terial that will withstand the rough usage which a sweeping 

 net is likely to encounter ; never use bobbinet, or too heavy 

 a material. Muslin, unbleached, is as good as any, is cheap, 

 and one net will stand quite a number of ordinary collecting 

 seasons. The design I use is shown in the outline drawing 

 accompanying, and can be readily understood upon a little 

 study. I use the Simplex net, ten inch steel rim, which I find 

 very satisfactory, especially after eliminating the possibility 

 of the ferrule working up the handle, by the use of a snap 

 spring which keeps the ferrule in place when the net is in 

 use, or, on the handle when the net is detached. 



For use, a standard one-quarter pound paper bag, which is 

 about six and a half inches long by two and a half wide, is 

 inserted into the pocket, through the small hole at end of 

 cone, arranging that the end of the same protrudes into the 

 paper bag, funnel-like, as shown in the sketch. A few rapid 

 sweeps through the air to inflate the paper bag and a glance 

 to see that the end of the cone is properly placed and the net 

 is ready for use. A net of this design, especially for collecting 

 Ephydridae, or other hypdrophilous insects, has one great ad- 

 vantage over the usual or standard. In collecting over water 

 or wet flats with the usual form of net the end will often hang 

 down enough to strike the water, and thereby ruining the 

 catch and also requiring some time for drying the net before 

 continuing the collecting. With this form, even if the pocket 



