370 



INSECT MISCELLANIES. 



to fold up into a narrow compass, with a bag-net of 

 gauze or thin mushn, two feet deep, attached to it. 

 This is screwed into a pole about six feet long, for 

 ordinary purposes ; but for the purple emperor but- 

 terfly {^patiira Iris), and other high-flying insects, 

 thirty feet is not too long. 



Cutterflj'-net. 



The instrument chiefly used for the same purpose 

 in this country is much more unwieldy, though more 

 easily managed by the inexperienced. It is a clap- 

 net,* similar to a bird-catcher's bat-fowling-net, but 

 of shghter materials. The rods of the one which 

 we use are about five feet long, when the three 

 pieces are joined by means of brass ferules. They 

 ought to be made, tapering like a fishing rod, of hazel 

 or any tough wood, with two bent pieces of cane at 

 the end, tightly fitted in so as not to slip when the 

 apparatus is used. The net may be made of fine 

 white muslin, for small insects ; but green gauze is 

 best for moths and butterflies, the edges being bound 

 with broad tape all round, so as to form a place for 

 the rods to slip in. When the net is mounted, a rod 

 is held in each hand, and the whole spread out so as 



* This and all the other instruments here described are to be 

 procured of Mr Holmes. 2, Sidney 's-alley, Leicester-square. 



