214 Instructions j or collecting Insects. 



and lastly, from their colors. Now these being precisely the things, 

 that are most liable to be destroyed or altered, a collector cannot use 

 too much precaution in taking an insect. The butterflies, of all others, 

 are those, that require the greatest address. The extreme fragility 

 of their wings, and the slight adherence of the colors, that decorate 

 them, expose the pursuer to break them, if he handles them too 

 roughly, and to discolor them, if he touches the wings with his fingers. 

 I will add, lastly, that he, who would make an object of specula- 

 tion of the avails of his researches, will find his hopes defeated if 

 his insects are not well preserved. The more the admirers of col- 

 lections increase, the more scrupulous do they become with respect 

 to the perfect preservation of the insects, that they wish to purchase. 

 Those, that are injured, will not sell at any price. 



Instruments of Pursuit. 



A collector should be furnished with the following utensils : 



1 . A net of gauze ; 



2. Rackets in gauze ; 



3. An umbrella ; 



4. A small trowel ; 



5. A bownet of horse hair or canvas ; 



6. A tin box ; 



7. A wooden box lined with cork ; 



8. A certain quantity of triangles of paper ; 

 9* Pins of several sizes ; 



10. Bottles with large necks. 



_ • 



1. The net is formed of a piece of large iron wire bent into a cir- 

 cle of nine inches in diameter, and the united ends of which are 

 fixed in a socket of tin. This socket should be three inches long- 

 It should be a little conical in form so that a handle, which may be 

 longer or shorter, may be fastened into it. To the wire circle are 

 attached the extremities of the gauze net, which should be twenty 

 inches long. 



This net answers for taking, while on the wing, all sorts of insects, 

 and, more particularly, the butterflies. It may also be used in an- 

 other manner, which consists in passing it over the summits of flexible 

 plants, such as the large herbs of the meadows. The insects resting 

 on these plants fall to the bottom of the net, and, in this way, dje 

 pursuer finds a great number of small species, that would otherwise 

 escape his notice. 



