55 



Fig. I. In- 

 sect net. 



DIRECTIOxNS FOR COLLECTING AND PRESERVING 



INSECTS. 



The articles necessary for collecting insects are few and 

 inexpensive. One net and one killing bottle may do service 

 for a grade or an entire country school, thus reducing the 

 expense to a minimum. 



Insect Net. Fig. i. 

 Materials required : -_^-.,_,^.^ 



1 . A handle 

 about three feet 

 long ; an old broom handle will do. 



2. A piece of tin three inches wide, long 

 enough to reach around the handle. 



3. A piece of No. 3 galvanized wire 3 ft. 6 

 in. long. 



4. ^ yard of heavy sheeting. 



5. ^ yard of cheese cloth. 

 Bend the wire into a ring about a foot in diameter and bend 



back about 3 inches of each end of the wire so they may be 

 inserted into a hole drilled into the end of the handle. 

 The piece of tin should be fastened around the end of the 

 handle where the wire is inserted to hold it securely in place. 

 If practicable a tinsmith should be called upon to help in bend- 

 ing the wire and fastening it to the handle. After this is done 

 take the sheeting and fold it over the wire double, using only 

 enough to fit around the wire without gathering ; the object of 

 this heavy cloth is to prevent the net from wearing out quickly. 

 Make the cheese cloth into a bag with rounded bottom and 

 just wide enough to fit the facing of sheeting to which it should 

 be sewed securely, and the net is finished. 



How TO USE THE NeT. 



The net must be swung swiftly to be successful. Insects 

 have many eyes and are very wide-awake and have no desire 

 to be caught; therefore, the collector must be very active if he 

 gets anything. One method of using the net is called 

 ''sweeping" ; to do this take the handle about a foot and a half 

 above the ring and pass the net quickly back and forth, 



