PRESERVATION OF INSECTS. 367 



dispositions of a few. We may advantageously adopt 

 these methods when we wish to furnish our cages with 

 live insects, in order to study their economy. 



One of the most useful and handy instruments for 

 this purpose is an umbrella. In walking through a 

 meadow, for instance, where the grass is not too short, 

 we may stretch the umbrella, hold the hollow side 

 uppermost, and push it through the grass, when the 

 insects which may be above its level will fall into the 

 trap. In this way we have procured the caterpillars 

 of saw-flies, moths, and butterflies, which feed on 

 grass and on the other herbage in meadows, where we 

 might probably have searched for them in vain by the 

 eye. The sides of drains and ditch-banks may be 

 trailed in the same manner. The butterfly-nets, to 

 be afterwards described, may be used in the same 

 way, and are, we think, superior to the apparatus 

 invented by Mr Paul, of Starston in Norfolk, for 

 taking the turnip-fly. 



The umbrella is equally useful for holding under the 

 branches of shrubs and trees, which ought to be 

 beaten smartly over it with a strong walking-stick, 

 the shock of the strokes causing the insects to drop 

 down. This, however, will only answer for the 

 smaller and lower branches : when it is required to 

 beat the higher boughs, a long pole must be used, 

 with a sheet or a piece of canvass spread under the 

 tree. The tops of the taller plants may be shaken 

 by the hand over the umbrella. 



When insects are thus found, it will be necessary 

 to secure them, in order to take them to the cages 

 uninjured, to be provided with a number of pill- 

 boxes, with pin-holes drilled in them to admit air, 

 and to introduce, particularly along with caterpillars, 

 a bit of the fresh leaf or other substance upon which 

 they have been feeding. We prefer separate, small 

 boxes for such purposes, to the larger larvff-box in 



