Capture and Preservation of Butterflies 



Of butterfly nets used in the chase there are many 

 and varied patterns in the market. I made my own 

 and a better balanced one it would be hard to find. 

 Having seen and handled a few in my time, my ex- 

 perience has been that they are mostly too heavy, have 

 too many loose parts, and their weight is badly dis- 

 tributed. Indeed, I saw one lately which felt more like 

 a hammer in one's hand. I think if you try to get one 

 made after the pattern here described and figured on 

 p. 15, you will not be disappointed with it. 



Now, it is one of the avowed purposes of this little 

 book to make the study and collecting of butterflies 

 cost all the time a boy can spare, and little, or, at least, 

 not much in money. The requirements for a ring 

 folding net are 2 yards of steel wire, rather less than 

 j- inch in thickness (cost about threepence) ; three 

 copper rivets and washers, ^ inch by f inch long 

 (cost one penny) ; one -inch iron screw-head bolt and 

 nut (one penny). Cut the wire into two pieces, each 

 20 inches long, and two pieces 1 6 inches long. If you 

 can get a tinsmith friend to turn the eyes for you, so 

 much the better ; you will thus avoid the most difficult 

 part of the operation, but you would lose some valuable 

 lessons and the satisfaction of having made the whole 

 thing yourself. 



The accompanying cut will show you how the eyes 

 are turned and riveted, and how the nut is fixed in the 

 tube which the tinsmith will make for you, and he will 

 also solder the nut in the narrow end for a few 

 coppers. Or you can get him to make the whole 

 14 



