MORSE: ORTHOPTERA OF NEW ENGLAND. 273 
the end made of a piece of springy brass or steel which was 
sHpped inside the handle when not in use. A handle of this 
length is cumbersome in traveling and is longer than necessary 
for most work in the East, where one of five feet is preferable. 
With a rubber tip on the end such a handle forms a useful staff 
of much assistance in walking and mountain climbing, is not too 
long for convenience, and is rigid enough to stand hard use. For 
traveling, a jointed rod and folding ring which allow the whole to 
be placed in a suit-case are to be preferred, and though the joints 
soon wear loose and long service cannot be expected of it, this is 
the form which is most satisfactory for any but the most stren- 
uous work. The net-ring should be so constructed (some are 
not!) as to allow the net to be slipped off and replaced by another 
with a minimum of time and effort. 
A convenient though not very stiff net-ring may be made from 
a piece of band-saw steel of any length to suit, which may be 
coiled up and carried in the pocket till needed. This is held by 
a brass mounting with a coarse screw thread in the base enabling 
it to be attached to a stick of suitable size which may usually be 
secured without difficulty. A desirable additional detail con- 
sists in dividing the net-ring into four pieces, twisting their 
ends into the plane of the ring (to prevent lateral movement 
when in use), and riveting them together. This allows the ring 
to be folded up with the net upon it and placed in the pocket, 
or whipped out and put into action with little delay. 
Nets should be made of close-meshed canopy-lace or bobbinet 
if it is desired to be able to strike with great speed at rapidly 
flying insects. If wide-meshed, the doubled hind legs of the 
insects shp through the meshes and their owners are likely to be 
damaged. For sweeping, a net of heavy sheeting will wear 
much longer and capture even the smallest specimens uninjured. 
A combination net for general collecting may be made of open- 
meshed cheese-cloth with a facing around the opening of doubled 
heavy sheeting through which the net-ring can be quickly thrust 
and it is perhaps the most satisfactory material as a whole. The 
net must hang loosely at the ring, not drawn in, for if so, many 
specimens will be knocked out of it instead of scooped in. It 
should be rounded at the bottom, with somewhat tapering sides, 
and less than an arm's length in depth for convenience, though 
