284 



Insect and other Tnvertehrate Fauna 



teeth and the lower edges of the plates were kept sharpened in order that 

 they might enter the ground more easily (Fig. 1). 



The plates were driven into the ground to form a box nine inches 

 square, the smallest plate being on the side towards the outside of the 

 plot (Fig. 2). A hole was then dug in the path, extending about two feet 



Fig. 1. Iron plates and trowel used in taking^soil samples. 



Fig. 2. Plates in position, before any soil has been removed. 



from the smallest plate, and about a foot in width, in order to give room 

 to remove the soil from the box. This hole was first made to a depth of 

 about two inches, the front plate was then removed, and by means of 

 the special trowel it was possible to remove the top layer of soil enclosed 

 by the '"box." This soil was then extracted to a depth of one inch; 



