COLLECTION OP INSECTS FOR STUDY. 5 



As a rule the length of the bag should be twice its diameter. The 

 common size is 1 foot in diameter and 2 feet long. The ])ag is best 

 if made to taper alittle at the bottom, and the edges should be double 

 hemmed (French seamed), so as to leave no free edge that may fray- 

 out. If the bag is of light material, it should be sewed to a band 

 of stout muslin at the top. This band should be double and open 

 at each end for the insertion of the ring, or else sewed on the ring. 

 The ring may be of any heavy wire about the size of telephone wire. 

 Bought rings usually have two or three joints to allow for folding, 

 but although this is convenient for packing it is not important. 

 The wire should be several inches longer than necessary to form 

 the ring, the extra length bent at right angles, and the last half inch 

 again bent at right angles. The stick or handle, about 2 or 2J feet 

 long, should be stout but not too heavy. A groove almost the size 

 of the wire should be cut on each side near the end of the stick, 

 ending in a hole; then the bent ends of the ring should be inserted 

 m the hole and aU wound tightly with twine, or a metal jacket slid 

 over the ends to hold them in place. A longer and lighter handle 

 of bamboo is better for collecting butterflies and dragon flies. It 

 win be necessary to leave a few inches near the upper end of the 

 bag unsewed in order that the ring can be inserted into the band. 

 This part can be laced up with a string and the ends of the string 

 tied to the handle. This will keep the net from slipping around 

 on the ring. 



For catching smaU insects a midget net of 5 or 7 inches in diam- 

 eter is useful and can be made on the same plan as the larger one. 

 The ends of the wire of the net can be inserted in a spool and a stick 

 for the handle wedged in between the ends of the wire. This net is 

 very handy for collecting insects from flowers and, in fact, for general 

 collecting. The material fonl^ie bag of the midget net should be 

 very light; white China silk lining is a good material. 



For collecting ac^uatic insects a more open mesh or sieve net can 

 be attached to an iron frame which is straight on one side and bowed 

 up on the other. With cords attached to each side this may be 

 thrown into the water and, after sinking to the bottom, drawn to 

 shore. Dredging among the weedy or sedgy parts of a pond is 

 especially productive of insects. 



Many insects are attracted to lights, and a strong lamp with a 

 reflector to throw the light upon a white sheet will serve to attract 

 many insects, particularly on sultry nights. A mixture of sugar or 

 molasses and decaying apples smeared on trees in the woods will 

 often attract moths at night. A bull's-eye lantern is usefid in 

 examining these patches in the evening. 



Many insects that occur on the trunks of trees may be captured 

 easily by putting a small cyanid vial over them; thus one avoids 



