LARV^ BOXES. 



429 



procured the caterpillars of saw-flies, moths, and buttei-flies, 

 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 canvas 

 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 larvae- 



a, Larva3-b(jx; and h, pocket collecting box. 



box in use among collectors ; since we can by their means 

 more readily remember the difterent plants on which 

 several species were found, besides avoiding the risk of one 



