4; AiniORISMATA ENTOMOLOGICA, 



desirous to leArn. This, I say, is the best kind of net. The bottom 

 part should be turned up, and run on a piece of tape tied to the 

 handles on each side, forming a kind of bag, to stop the captured 

 insects from falling down and out of the net if held upwards at the time. 



The second best, and indeed the only other that I at all recommend, 

 13 also best to be understood by means of an engraving, which is accor- 

 dingly giv'en; but I may mention that though less fitted ^ad captandum/ 

 than the one just before mentioned, the present has an advantage, or 

 rather some advantages over the other, though on the whole, in point 

 of usefulness inferior to it. First, it folds up into a very small compass. 

 Secondly, it is shut up or put together in a very brief space of time; 

 which when you see three Convolvulus Hawk Moths at once, as I have 

 done, is a considerable desideratum. Thirdly, the stick to which the 

 round net is affixed, is neither more nor less than a common walking- 

 stick, and useful accordingly in more ways than one; add to which, 

 that even when fitted to the net, or rather the net to it, it will often 

 be foimd very serviceable in "beating about the bush," as you walk 

 along; and if any '^scarce article" flies out from its concealment, you 

 instantly reverse the state of affiiirs, and capture the insect, or — miss it. 



It is then very serviceable, at all events as a 'pis aller,' though 

 inferior, on the whole, to the . first-named net. As to the forceps '^et 

 id genus omne,' I exclude them altogether from my vocabulary of 

 entomological apparatus. A common fishing-jacket, with two large and 

 two small pockets outside, is the best kind of coat. 



•'first catch your hare. 



'^'Blessings on the man that first invented sleep," said Sancho Panza, 

 and every housemaid must surely almost as much praise the memory 

 of him who was the first discoverer of lucifer matches. The old 

 tindei--box and its concomitants must be most unpleasingly associated in 

 their minds, with the idea of a cold dark winter morning, and the almost 

 impossibility there was in the olden days, or rather nights, to '^strike 

 a light." N<:)w, thanks to the benign inventor of the lucifer match, 

 whose sole thought must have been doubtless for the unhappy females 

 spoken of, all difficulty is at once and for ever removed, and if they 

 only "keep their powder dry," it will give them the privilege of lying 

 in bed half-an-hour longer than they otherwise would be able to do, 



