COLLECTING AND PRESERVING INSECTS BANKS. 



37 



COLLECTING APPARATUS. 



Nets. — The essentials of collecting are a net, a killing bottle, pins, 

 labels, and a box in which to keep the specimens. Practically every 

 entomologist uses an insect net. This consists of a handle, a ring, 

 and to the latter is attached a net. One can find a number of differ- 

 ent forms in the catalogues of the dealers. If desired, one can 

 make a very serviceable not for himself. One way is to take two 

 pieces of stout wire, each about 15 to 20 inches long, bend them half 

 circularly (fig. 75, c), and at one end make a folding hinge having a 

 check on one side dig. 75, b) ; the other ends are bent and beaten into 

 two square sockets (fig. 75, f), which fit to a nut, soldered into one 

 end of a brass tube (fig. 75, d). When so fitted, they may be securely 



Fig. 74.— A bee, Epeolus remigatus. 



I'n stencil by a large-headed screw (Jig. 75, e) which fits into the nut 

 sockets. A handle may be cut and fitted into the hollow tube 

 (fig. 75, d), which should be several inches long. 



A net with entire ring may be made by bending a, piece of stout 

 wire into a circle, leaving an inch or so at the end. These ends 

 may be bound together tightly by smaller wire and then tinned by 

 applying a drop of zinc chloride; then hold these ends in a fire 

 or gas jet until red hot, and a few drops of solder placed upon the 

 ends will join them firmly together. A brass tube, or rifle cartridge 

 with end cut off, may be used to hold these ends. The tube 

 should first be tinned with a little zinc chloride; cork up one vnd of 

 the lube, then fill it with melted tin or soft solder, and insert the 

 ends of the ring. When cold the cork may be removed and a suit- 

 able stick inserted. 



