1 LLOYD'S NATURAL HISTORY. 



should contain no corners ; and it should be long enough to 

 be lapped round the stick with a jerk, when used, to prevent 

 the Butterfly from escaping. Of course, a much simpler instru- 

 ment may be made to answer the purpose, and even a ring of 

 willow-twigs tied between a forked stick might serve as the 

 framework of a net, when nothing else is available. Although 

 a Butterfly-net much resembles a fisherman's landing-net, yet 

 nothing could be more unsuited to the purpose than the latter, 

 even if the string net should be replaced with one of green 

 gauze. It would be found far too clumsy and inconvenient in 

 practice ; the ring would be too small, and the weight would be 

 all at one end. 



Some collectors prefer what it called the umbrella-net a net 

 of green gauze made to slide up and down a stick, and fitting 

 into an umbrella-case when not in use. But this, though use- 

 ful for many purposes, such as sweeping grass or bushes, or for 

 beating caterpillars into, is rather too short for ordinary collect- 

 ing, and the stick through the middle is another objection. 

 The long net used by the old collectors for catching the 

 Purple Emperor (a net on a pole twenty or thirty feet long) is 

 now rarely used. If necessary, one can be improvised from a 

 sapling ; but it is now found more advantageous to lure high- 

 flying insects to the ground with carrion, or some similar bait. 



It is hard work to run down a Butterfly, and, in general, it is 

 unnecessary. Some have a slow flight and settle frequently on 

 flowers, and many of those which fly rapidly have a habit of 

 constantly returning to the same spot. If the ground is suffi- 

 ciently open to allow of following up a Butterfly, it is almost 

 sure to settle sooner or later. Many Moths may be caught on 

 flowers, especially at dusk ; but a few, such as the Humming- 

 Bird Hawk-Moth, feed on the wing, and are capable of very 

 rapid flight, especially if alarmed. Almost the only means of 

 catching it is to bring the net up very gently as near the insect 



