304 NATURAL HISTORY. [CH. XXIII. 



neeus, who was in many cases acquainted with only 

 one in fifty of the number at present known, it be- 

 comes obviously necessary for entomologists to sub- 

 divide the groups which were then genera of Lin- 

 naeus, into many sub-genera. By this means we 

 are enabled to name specimens with greater ease, 

 and thus save ourselves the trouble of running over 

 a hundred, or perhaps a thousand descriptions, that 

 would now be placed in one of the Linneean genera, 

 whereas in his time only twenty, or at the utmost 

 fifty, of these species were described. 



The terms which are the most generally employed 

 are those indicated by Messrs. Kirby and Spence, 

 whose work is indispensable to an entomologist. 

 Although, on turning over the leaves of that portion 

 of the work which contains the terminology, some 

 students may be frightened with the mass of names 

 set before them, it is well to bear in mind that only 

 a certain portion of these is required by the beginner. 



The most generally useful and simple instrument 

 for capturing insects is the bag-net. It consists of 

 a stout hoop of brass wire, the diameter of which 

 extends to nine or twelve inches ; to the hoop is 

 sewed a bag of fine gauze ; and this, fixed to a com- 

 mon walking-stick, not only serves for flying insects, 

 but also enables the collector to sweep the grass, 

 nettles, &c. This stick is also useful in beating the 

 hedges, trees, &c., and thus disturbing the insects, 

 which may then be caught by means of the net. 

 Some entomologists, in fact, use only this apparatus, 

 which has been found sufficient for all purposes. 

 There is another net, which is termed a fly-net ; but 

 it requires considerable dexterity to use it to advan- 

 tage. This net is about four or five feet long, and 

 two or three feet broad ; when laid open it is ex- 

 tended by means of two rods, one of which is held 

 in each hand, and when the object is captured the 

 two sticks are brought together. A third instrument 

 ■is the forceps, which is made of two octagonal rings 



