63 THE YOUNG COLLECTOR'S 



wing, are generally collected with the aid of a net. I myself 

 prefer a common ring-net, which is made of a 

 jointed iron ring which screws on to the end of 

 a walking-stick, and can be folded up and put 

 in the pocket when not in use. The ring is> 

 about 9 inches across, and to this is attached 

 a strip of stout green chintz, on which is sewn a 

 net of green gaiize, about 18 inches in length. 

 Such a net may be bought of any of the dealers 

 in objects of natural history for about ^s. 6d. 



. The "umbrella-net "is formed of similar materials, 



but is mounted on a whalebone ring instead of an 

 iron one, and slides up and down a stick, being 

 covered by a common umbrella case when not 

 in use. But this form of net is much more 

 costly than the other, and the stick is too short 

 for many purposes. It is, however, very easy to 

 manufacture a net for yourself out of a ring of 

 flexible twigs, a piece of green gauze, and a light 

 Y-shaped sapling, between the arms of which 

 the net is fixed. The net should always be 

 transpai - ent, and shHild contain no corners ; 

 green is the best colour, as it harmonizes with 

 the colour of grass and trees. 



You will find butterflies and day-flying moths 

 in gardens, fields, .and woods ; and nocturnal 

 species may be found at rest on shady walls, 

 tree-trunks, or in outhouses, or may be dis- 

 turbed from their lurking places by beating a 

 hedge to windward. In the evening, many 

 moths may be captured flying over flowers, or 

 Ring-net. may be attracted into a room by a light placed at 

 an open window, while others maybe obtained by "sugaring," 

 that is, painting the trunks of trees with a mixture of sugar 

 and beer, flavoured with a few drops of rum. The patches of 

 "sugar" must then be visited after dark with a lantern, when 

 moths will frequently be found regaling themselves upon the 

 sweet mixture. 



Sluggish moths and small moths may generally be safely 

 carried home alive in pill-boxes, taking care not to mix full and 

 empty ones, and only to put one specimen in each box ; but 

 butterflies and active moths must be killed and pinned at onte. 

 Butterflies and small moths may be carefully nipped below the 

 wings, taking care not to damage them. Stout-bodied moths 



