266 [April, 



many boxes* and tinsf as the beater can conveniently manage to stow away in his 

 pockets or satchel : but for beating the higher branches of trees a large sheet 

 (of canvass or other material) and a long beating pole become necessities ; J the 

 sheet too is of the greatest use where any large extent of tall bushes has to be beaten 

 or shaken, as, for example, a sallow hedge for the larvae of ^. Iris. 



Saplings may be jarred by kicking against them with the heel, but both they 

 and the lower branches of trees are best worked by means of the mallet (" le 

 maillet,")^, an instrument much in vogue with our French neighbours, to the efficacy 

 of which I can myself attest. In using this implement it must be remembered 

 that our endeavour is not to thrash the \avvda off the food, but rather to jar or shake 

 the food from their foot-hold, and therefore, after administering a gentle tap or two 

 for such larvae as fall readily, we should strike sharply and suddenly in the direction 

 opposite to that in which we desire the larvce to fall, otherwise most of them will be 

 jerked away and lost, though even with the greatest care it is difficult to entu-ely 

 avert this occurrence. 



The beating-stick is most serviceable for ejecting larvae fi-om bushes, and this 

 is generally wielded in the right hand, while the left is employed in holding the clap 

 net, umbrella, or " what-not," in the most advantageous position for receiving the 

 results of the beating. Although most people think the direction in which they 

 apply their beating-sticks unimportant, my friend Dr. Wallace will tell them that, 

 unless they attend to the above itaHcised sentence, they will labour with little 

 chance of success for the larvae of Aleucis pictaria, and other clinging geometric 

 larvas. 



From time to time the " beatings " should be carefully examined, and such 

 larvae as the collector desires to retain boxed with as little handling as possible. 

 The contents of the net shonld then be turned about, and blown, or smoked, upon 

 with a view to rendering active such larvae as may have instinctively coiled up, or 

 become otherwise inert, from the suddenness of the shock which has dislodged them : 

 when the collector can find no more, he should cautiously turn out the contents, and 

 cast a last lingering glance over the net or umbrella for any larvae which may have 

 attached themselves to the fabric of the receptacle. 



Whilst heating hy night the operator will act wisely to eschew the use of a 

 lantern, which would certainly do more harm than good, as its tendency is certainly 

 to " scare " many larvae ; he will, however, of course require it when examining the 

 results of his beating. 



Shaking is sometimes preferable to beating bushes, as for example in cases 

 where it is desirable to procure the larvaa of certain species wtihout injuring them, 



* A handy box is thus formed : — Take a chip box and put a second lid on the bottom ; punch, or 

 cut, a hole through the second lid a7id bottom, towards the circumference :— when the holes 

 thus formed are opposite to one another, larvae may be inserted, but when the second lid is shifted 

 round, the holes are not opposite, and there is no opening. 



t The form of lurva tin best suited for the poclset is " oval," size optional, the bottom jjerforated and 

 the lid provided with a short lube into which a cork is fitted :— Larvae are easily put down the tube and 

 the danger of crushing them, by removing and replacing the lid, is obviated. 



X All iron crook, svhipped with waxed string to the to|) of a long pole, is very useful for suddenly and 

 forcibly shaking the u]iper branches ; as the larvee, thus detached, fall straight down on the sheet below. 



§ An ordinary mallet the sirikiiig-end of which is loaded with a pound or two of lead, and encased 

 in stout leather or gulta percha, which has the double etfect of preventing, in a great measure, injury 

 to the trees, and diminishing sound; for working the lower branches of trees, a lighter one, with a long 

 handle, is more suitable. 



