{904] Nature Study — No. 17. 123 



NATURE STUDY— No. XVII. 



The Collection and Preservation of BuTTtRFLiES and Moths. 



By Arthur Gibson, Division of Entomology, Central Experimental Farm, 



Ottawa. 



It does not require much experience to collect insects. Some 

 kinds of these interesting creatures can be found at all seasons of 

 the year. Of the Lepidoptera, the moths, which as a rule fly at 

 night, are by far the most numerous, and the months of June, 

 July and August are the best to hunt for them. The first butter- 

 flies emerge during the early warm days of spring and continue to 

 appear throughout the summer, some species flying late into the fall. 

 The following directions, owing to limited space, are brief but are 

 included in this Nature Study series in the hope that they may be 

 of use to teachers and students who may care to collect these in- 

 sects in connection with their work. Insect life is full of intense 

 interest, and in the study of these beautiful creatures many prac- 

 tical Nature Study lessons can be drawn. 



The Net. — Butterfly nets can be bought from any of the 

 dealers in entomological supplies. These range in price from 

 $1.00 to $2.50. It is not difficult to make a net, however, and 

 this can be done easily at home. One of the nets the writer uses, 

 consists of a piece of cane 38 inches long, and rather more than 

 ^ inch thick. This is bent in the shape of a 

 circle (fig. i), the sides of both ends being 

 shaved off" to fit the upper square projec- 

 tions of a ferrule. An easy way of carrying 

 the cane when not in use is to put it under 

 the coat around the waist, placing the ends 

 in the side trouser pockets. A light stick 

 from 2^ to 3 feet long answers as a handle. 

 Any tinsmith for a small sum will make '^* ^' 



one of these ferrules (fig. 2). The one I generally use is made 



