432 



PRESERVATION OF INSECTS. 



butterflies, the edges being bound witli 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 



Clap-net. 



whole spread out so as to intercept insects on the wing, 

 which are secured by clapping the rods together. A little 

 practice will render this easy, except when there is much 

 wind, and in that case few insects fly Tt is no less useful 

 for throwing over insects when they alight on low flowers, 

 and in this way we have caught some very fine butterflies 

 and moths. 



An instrument still more used by collectors than emj of 

 the preceding is the net-forceps, which may be readily con- 

 structed out of an old pair of curling-irons, such as have 



Ring-net. 



Net-Forceps. 



rings for the finger and thumb, binding these with silk or 

 cotton to prevent their hurting the hand. To the blades 



