31 



inequality in tlie weight and bulk of these sub* 

 stances, will occasion the j^auze to open when 

 thrown from the hand : a thin piece of twine, a 

 yard or two long, may be tied to the remaining 

 corner, by which the net may be drawn in at 

 pleasure. The art of spreading it to its full ex- 

 tent may be acquired with very little practice. 



Having caught the insects, the next tiling is 

 to preserve them. Moths, butterflies, locusts, 

 and others of this class, may be killed by nip- 

 ping them across the thorax. Weisps, bees, 

 hornets, &c. when secured, may be treated in the 

 same way, guarding the hand with a handker- 

 chief; or tiiey may be squeezed with a pair of 

 forceps : but if the collector be not careful in per- 

 forming this operation, he will in all probability 

 have cause to regret his want of caution. Or 

 they may be killed by putting them in a glass im- 

 mersed half way up in boiling water, and cover- 

 ing the top close ; or by placing them on a plate 

 mider an inverted tumbler, and setting it before 



