CHAPTER II 
THE CAPTURE, PREPARATION, AND PRESERVATION OF SPECIMENS 
“ What hand would crush the silken-winged fly, 
The youngest of inconstant April’s minions, 
Because it cannot climb the purest sky, 
Where the swan sings, amid the sun’s dominions? 
Not thine.” Shelley. 
“ Do not mash your specimens! ’’—The Professor. 
COLLECTING APPARATUS 
Nets. — In the capture of insects of all orders, and especially of 
butterflies and moths, one of the most important instruments is 
the net. German naturalists make use of what are known as 
shears ( Scheren ), which are made like gigantic scissors, having at 
the end two large oval rings upon which wire gauze or fine netting 
is stretched. With this implement, which looks like an old- 
fashioned candle-snuffer of colossal size, they succeed in collect¬ 
ing specimens without doing much injury. Shears are, however, 
not much in vogue among the naturalists of other countries. The 
favorite instrument for the ordinary collector is the net. Nets may 
be made in various ways and of various materials. There are a 
multitude of devices which have been invented for enabling the 
net to be folded up so as to occupy but little space when not 
in use. The simplest form of the net, which can be made 
almost anywhere, is constructed as follows: A rod—preferably 
of bamboo, or some other light, stiff material—is used as the 
handle, not more than five feet in length. Attached to this at its 
upper end, a loop or ring made of metal, or some moderately stiff 
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