948 PEOCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 



would-be capturer must tlierefore creep up very cautiously, or take up 

 a favourable position aud remain motionless, until the occurrence of 

 a suitable opportunity for a quick sharp stroke with the net. If this 

 fails, it is generally useless to pursue the startled insect. The best 

 thing to do is to keep quiet in the hope that it may return. Some butter- 

 flies, such as Vanessids, often have a favourite spot to which they return 

 again and agam, and hawk-moths will fi-equently return to the flowers 

 fi'om which they have been startled, whereas a stern chase in either 

 case is more likely to drive the insect away than to achieve its 

 capture. 



A wary insect, such as a butterfly or Fulgorid, settled on a tree- 

 trunk or on any solid object above ground-level, calls for the most 

 difflcult side-sweep of the net. A case of this sort proves the truth of 

 the saying that " practice makes perfect " ; too distant a stroke will 

 probably wreck the net against the tree-trunk and too near a one will 

 miss the insect, and it is only the collector who knows by constant 

 practice the exact reach of his net who will achieve the happy medium 

 and secure the prize in nine cases out of ten. 



To catch an active insect resting on the ground is also not easy, the 

 best method as a rule being to creep up very cautiously to within easy 

 strikmg distance, raise the net very slowly until it occupies a convenient 

 position for the stroke and then strike it downiwards over the insect, 

 taking care that the rim strikes the ground evenly all round and not 

 with too much violence. Butterflies will usually fly upwards into the 

 bat' but tiger-beetles will often run around on the ground inside the net 

 and escape if any hole is available under the rim, which should there- 

 fore be kept pressed tight against the ground. 



^Vhen netting an insect, endeavour should be made to follow its 

 motions with the eye. An insect which is supposed to be safely in the 

 net often proves, on examination of this, to have been missed ; but, 

 if it's flight has been followed with the eyes, a second chance of capture 

 may be afforded. Some sluggish insects when at rest will remain 

 clingmg to their resting-places even when struck at with a net but will 

 drop or fly off immediately afterwards. The collector therefore should 

 not look at once at the net, for, if the insect has been netted, it will 

 remain safely there ; he will do better to keep his eye fixed on the posi- 

 tion of the insect, so as not to lose sight of it if perchance it has not got 

 into the net. 



Similarly, when seeing an insect at rest and being unprepared for 

 its capture, it is always as well to endeavour to keep one's eye on the 

 insect when getting ready the net or killing-bottle or whatever is to be- 



