368 INSECT MISCELLANIES. 



use among collectors ; since we can by their means 

 more readily remember the different plants on which 

 several species were found, besides avoiding the risk 

 of one species devouring another, — an incident not 

 uncommon among the caterpillars of moths, as we 

 have recorded in a former page. The collector's 

 larvae-box is an oblong chip box, such as is used for 

 wafers, with a gauze lid for air, and a hole at one end, 

 furnished with a stopper, for introducing the larvae. 



#. b 



a, Larvffi-box ; and b, Pocket collecting box. 



For water-insects a net, similar to a fisher's land- 

 ing net, is employed, fixing it to a long pole, and 

 raking with it through every piece of water within 

 reach. The net which we have had constructed con- 

 sists of an interior lining of gauze, as strong as it can 

 be procured, with a strong fish-net on the outside to 

 strengthen this. When canvass is used, the water 

 does not escape through it with sufficient facility. 

 Many interesting water-insects, however, may be 

 procured by mere inspection of water-plants, particu- 

 larly the under-sides of their leaves, at the edges of 

 ditches, ponds, canals, rivers, and lakes, and when 

 the water is clear, by examining the bottom of the 



