The Wonderful Ways of Insects and Spiders [ 247 



tors leaping with abandon and spasmodically lashing out with 

 their nets. 



Certain precautions are indispensable to capturing your butter- 

 fly, such as avoiding having the sun at your back otherwise you 

 cast a shadow, alarming the butterfly. You must coach your young- 

 ster in acquiring the knack of giving a quick sidewise swoop with 

 the net; then, with the butterfly trapped inside, he must twist 

 his wrist sharply so that the bag folds over the hoop. 



Usually this is a good method of attack, but some species have 

 reactions that call for special strategy. For example: A monarch 

 trying to escape, flies straight up in the air, whereas a royal fritil- 

 lary drops down directly into the grass and weeds. To snare either 

 of these creatures, you must swing your net to cut off escape. 



The Best Hunting Grounds: Clear, bright, windless days are most 

 favorable for butterfly hunting. The best hunting grounds are 

 meadows dotted with milkweed, thistles and orange butterfly 

 weed, clover fields, or weed-covered fields near a wooded tract. 

 The best time to trap a butterfly is when it is feeding. Occasionally 

 you will find one so absorbed in sucking nectar from a flower 

 that you can catch your prey between your thumb and forefinger. 



Baiting the Trap for Moths: Night-flying moths can often be 

 secured as they cluster about electric lights. However, a more 

 adventurous way to collect them is by "sugaring" tree trunks. 

 For this you prepare bait in the form of mashed, fermented 

 peaches mixed with sugar. (Any similar preparation will also do 

 the trick.) 



At dusk your Expedition for Moths takes a generous supply 

 of bait and paints long streaks of it with a stiff brush on the trunks 

 of several trees, making sure to choose the sides sheltered from 

 the wind. A little after dark you again visit the trees this time 

 armed with flashlight and net. Often you will discover many 

 different species enjoying the bait. 



Painless Killing: On any collecting expedition you must have a 

 "killing jar" to quiet your captives quickly, painlessly, and with- 

 out injuring their delicate wings. You can fashion a homemade 

 container by placing cotton batting soaked with carbona in the 



