CATCHING BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS 79 



spot for immediate use ; but you may also have a reserve store in 

 a small pocket cushion, or arranged neatly on a strip of flannel 

 which can be rolled up in the waistcoat pocket. 



At last you are on the hunting ground, fully equipped but in- 

 experienced, and at first find yourself just a little awkward in the 

 use of your new gear. Your experience with .the cap has been a 

 very wide one, and you are possibly an expert at knocking down 

 ' Whites ' in the streets and in your neighbour's kitchen gardens. 

 Now you have to wield the net, and coax your captives into your 

 killing bottle ; hence a slight feeling of incompetence at first. 



You soon get over this, however, and within five minutes you 

 may be seen furiously slashing away at all the poor butterflies that 

 come within range, common ' "Whites ' and dingy ' Browns ' re- 

 ceiving as much attention at your hands as any rare gem that 

 may happen to cross your path. 



How different are the movements of an experienced collector ! 

 He walks stealthily along the route he has chosen, apparently 

 taking but little notice of the majority of butterflies that approach 

 and pass him. He has already secured his ' series ' of nearly all 

 the species, and is carefully on the watch for the gems that are 

 required to complete his cabinet. His actions are slow and deli- 

 berate rather than rash ; and he trusts more to his eyes than his 

 legs. 



The beginner may take to his field work quite to his own satis- 

 faction, and may travel homeward with a feeling of great pride over 

 his first day's catch ; but yet there are a few points in which a little 

 advice may not be quite out of place, particularly so with regard to 

 the management of the net, and the killing and pinning of the 

 insects. 



Most of the butterflies may be caught on the wing, and it is far 

 better to net them in the air than to sweep them off the herbage 

 and flowers. If these are rather low, you should strike the net 

 smartly upwards from below them, but of course this movement is 

 impossible with insects that happen to be almost above your reach. 

 If a butterfly is busily engaged in searching out its sweet food, 

 flying from flower to flower, don't think of giving chase, but follow 

 it up stealthily, and you will sooner or later get an opportunity of 

 striking at it while in the air. Sometimes, however, you will see a 

 powerful flier making a straight dash across your field, taking no 

 notice whatever of the fragrant blossoms, but evidently engaged on 

 some important errand. If such happens to be a species you 



