178 ELEMENTARY LESSONS ON INSECTS 



A heavy net with a shorter handle and a bag of stout 

 muslin (called a beating net) may be used with advantage 

 for sweeping vegetation. This will obtain many kinds of 

 insects in all stages where few are ordinarily seen — pro- 

 tectively colored insects that hide in the grass and weeds. 



Fig. 61. — Nets for insect collecting. X, an air net; Y, a water dip net; Z, a 

 simple method of attaching home-made rim and handle. 



With either net, when the insects have been swept inside, 

 a quick turn of the wrist closes its mouth and keeps them 

 there until a cyanide bottle can be introduced to receive 

 them. A little practice will enable any one to use these tools 

 effectively. 



A dip net for individual collecting should be shallow and 

 flat bottomed (so that the catch can be seen in it before 

 removal). It should have a rim stiff enough to stand pushing 

 in and out among water weeds. For use in common by mem- 

 bers of a class the most generally useful sort is a sieve net, 



