176 INSTRUCTIONS FOR COLLECTING INSECTS. 



the net, and I much prefer it to the ordinary mode of securing them in 

 'pill boxes. The English entomologists all use the pill box, I believe, 

 to secure a micro after it is witliin the net, but it involves the neces- 

 sity of carrying a great many of them in the pockets, and the trouble 

 of killing one's captures after returning from the field wearied with 

 exercise. Therefore I much prefer to kill and pin on the field, although 

 to accomplish the latter satisfactorily often re(][uires, in consequence of 

 the minuteness of the objects, a steady hand. 



When walking over grassy meadows or amongst low herbage I am 

 in the habit of using the net by siueeping, and to very great advantage. 

 This operation is performed by giving the net an alternate right and 

 left motion as the collector walks forward, keeping the open end in- 

 clined at about an angle of 45° to the plane of the surface, touching 

 with the lovv^er part of the ring the tops of the grass and herbage, and 

 as the net distends itself with air, being careful that the apex does not 

 drag or strike when it is turned at the extreme right and left points 

 of the sweep. The motion should be gentle and continuous, and the 

 mouth of the net merely reversed in the alternation, so that the apex 

 is kept constantly flying in the air and free from contact with any sur- 

 rounding bodies. By this means he secures everything that rises as 

 he advances, and after every half dozen sweeps the net is brought to 

 the face, and a stream of breath blown into it whilst the collector in- 

 spects the interior. Should it contain anything he desires, it may be 

 selected, or even a half a dozen " micros" secured one after the other 

 Tby means of his glass, and all brought at the same time to the top 

 of his collecting box in the most perfect condition. In this manner I 

 have often collected 150 specimens during a few hours' walk in the 

 afternoon and evening. The operation may riot be made very com- 

 prehensible by description, but a few endeavors to practice it, will 

 soon put tbe collector in possession of the art. Of course, sweeping is 

 inapplicable when the grass and herbage are wet with dew. 



In addition to these means of collecting, the " micros" may be taken 

 in pill boxes wherever they may be seen, should the net not be at hand, 

 and the collector will find it advantageous always to carry a few in his 

 pocket during the entire collecting season. 



The loide-mouthed bottle, presently to be referred to, forms an excel- 

 lent collecting agent in the field, or to capture those which are attracted 

 to ourroomsby light during the nights of summer. Ov iha cupping- 

 glass or ivine-glass will enable one to secure many exquisite specimens 

 in the field during the hot, sultry days of June and July, when they 

 will be found on the leaves of the herbage of the cool, shady wood, 

 gamboling over their surfaces like veritable elves, or so immovable 

 that they seem to be enjoying an afternoon siesta, or feasting on odor- 

 ous wild flowers. In using the glass for this purpose, the object must 

 be gently approached so as not to alarm it, and the glass cautiously 

 advanced until it is just over the spot occupied by the specimen, whilst 

 the left hand is advanced beneath ; the glass is then brought down 

 rapidly over the object upon the left hand which closes it, and if you 

 have struck skilfully, secures you perhaps a rare species in all its 

 original beauty. 



The collector will soon ascertain what are the most productive 



