INSTRUCTIONS FOR COLLECTING INSECTS. 175 



Trhicli is composed of the pyrolides, tortrices, tineides, oteropliorides, 

 and alucitides. Some of the macro-lepidoptera, however, are of small 

 size, whilst, on the other hand, many ot the '^micros" are comparatively 

 large ; but there is a certain convenience in the use of the terms, as 

 standards of comparative size, which renders their occurrence quite 

 frequent. 



The implement most used in capturing lepidoptera is the ring-net, 

 made as will be herealter described. By means of this they are taken 

 on the wing, and as they hover over or after having alighted on flow- 

 ers, leaves, &c. The requisite dexterity in using it efficiently is soon 

 acquired by practice, and a little experience respecting the habits and 

 mode of the flight of the objects sought. "When the insect is once with- 

 in the net it can be kept quiet and at the bottom, by keeping it in 

 motion from side to side, so as to permit the air to rush through its open 

 end. But how can the specimen be secured with the least amount of 

 injury? There are several ways by which this can be accomplished. 

 When the specimen is of large size the net should be seized with the 

 left hand in such a manner as to jn'event fluttering as much as pos- 

 sible, and to guard against its pushing itself into the folds ; and it is 

 then seized by the thorax with the thumb and forefinger of the right 

 hand in the manner heretofore described, and smartly squeezed so as 

 to crush it and thus deprive it of life ; or it may be touched on the 

 head through the net with tlie glass stopper of a bottle containing 

 chloroform ; the bottle having been shaken previously to removing the 

 stopper it will carry enough to benumb completely the largest moth 

 after two or three successive applications. I much prefer this to com- 

 pression of the thorax, although the insect usually revives, but this 

 can be prevented after pinning by using some one of the poisons to be 

 hereafter mentioned. The eflect of chloroform applied thus is almost 

 instantaneously to quiet the most violent flatterer, nor is it necessary 

 that any other portion of the insect than the head should be wetted by it. 



When the captive is a ''' micro," it may be prevented from escap- 

 ing by blowing a vigorous stream of breath on it through the open end 

 of the net; but if it proves to be too strong to be kept down thus, the 

 net must be immediately put in motion again to prevent its escape, 

 turning the open end alternately Irom one side to the other. After 

 throwing the specimen well in the apex by this means, my own mode 

 of operation is to grasp it with the left hand, taking care to have the 

 thumb and first finger upward, just above the specimen, and thus close 

 the net. Then by elevating the hand through the ring or on a level 

 with it, a common cupping glass of about two inches diameter, or a icine 

 glass, carried in the pocket, is })laccd on the top of the left hand over 

 the constricted portion, the grasp relaxed, and the insect permitted to 

 escape through the opening into its interior. The glass is then closed 

 below by the left hand on the outside of the net_, and may be trans- 

 ferred to the top of the collecting box, where it can be quieted with 

 chloroform and pinned. All lepidoptera, except those of large size, 

 can be easily secured thus, and without in the least stripping any por- 

 tion of the body of its scales. The smaller tortrices and tineae, which 

 can be kept within the net by blowing, may be likewise secured by the 

 glass, which is placed over them as they sit on or ascend the sides of 



