OF THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 31 



nished with silk gauze or some other light material for catching fly- 

 ing insects; and one which is stouter and furnished with a net of 

 'stronger material for sweeping non-flying specimens. 



Another still more simple, but less convenient, frame is thus de- 

 scribed by my friend F. G. Sanborn, of Boston, Mass.: 



[Fig. 12.] " Make a loop of strong iron or brass wire, of about 



3-16ths of an inch in thickness, so that the diameter of the 

 loop or circle will not exceed twelve inches, leaving an 

 inch to an inch and a half of wire at each end bent at 

 nearly right angles. Bind the two extremities of the wire 

 together with smaller wire (Fig. 12, a), and tin them by 

 applying a drop of muriate of zinc, then holding it in 

 the fire or over a gas flame until nearly red hot, when a 

 few grains of block tin or soft solder placed upon them 

 will flow evenly over the whole surface and join them 

 firmly together. Take a Maynard rifle cartridge tube, or other brass 

 tube of similar dimensions ; if the former, file off the closed end or 

 perforate it for the admission of the wire, and having tinned it in the 

 same manner on the inside, push a tight-fitting cork half way through 

 (Fig. 12, c) and pour into it melted tin or soft solder, and insert the 

 wires ; if carefully done, you will have a firmly constructed and very 

 durable foundation for a collecting net. The cork being extracted, 

 will leave a convenient socket for inserting a stick or walking cane to 

 serve as a handle." 



My friend, J. A. Lintner, of Albany, N. Y., makes very good use, 

 [Fig. 13.] in his ordinary promenades, of a telescopic fish-rod, with a 

 head (Fig. 13.) screwed on to one end, in which to fasten an 

 elastic brass coil on which the net is drawn, but which when 

 not in use sets snugly inside his silk hat. 



The bag should taper to the bottom, and in either case, 

 should be fully twice the diameter of the hoop, so that by 

 giving the net a twist, the mouth may be closed and the con- 

 I M tents thus secured. The sweeping-net may be protected 

 / V \\ around the hoop with a covering of leather, and in use should 

 ^ ^ be kept in a steady and continued back-and-forth motion, 

 ^ over and touching the plants, until the contents are to be ex- 

 amined ; when, by placing the head at the opening and quietly sur- 

 veying the restless inmates, the desiderata may be secured and the 

 rest turned out. A sudden dash of the air-net will usually lay any 

 flying object at the bottom. A net for aquatic insects may be made 

 on the same principle, but should be stout, with the meshes open 

 enough to allow free passage of water, and the bag not quite as deep 

 as the diameter of the hoop. A forceps net, which consists of two 

 gauze or bobbinet covered frames, having riveted handles, so as to 

 close like a pair of scissors, is employed for small insects; but I find 

 little use for it. A coarse sieve, together with a white towel, or sheet, 



