BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS. 247 



Look especially in and near ants' nests in sultry 

 weather, and under bark of trees where ants 

 occur, or under stones, and at the roots of grass, 

 for small beetles. 



Butterflies and Moths (Lepidoptera) must be col- 

 lected with great care, so that the beautiful scales 

 on the wings are not rubbed ofFor injured, as they 

 then become generally worthless : they may be 

 bred from caterpillars found on various trees and 

 plants (which is an excellent plan, as they are 

 then very perfect), or else caught by the aid of a 

 gauze net : a ring net about 1 J foot in diameter 

 and 2 feet deep, will do very well, attached to a 

 stick 3 to 6 feet long. Woods and wild places 

 are generally the best to find them in ; it is 

 necessary to pin them as you take them, which 

 must be done with great care, so that the 

 upper parts of the wings are not rubbed ; there- 

 fore the collector must be provided with a good 

 large box to stick them in. Some of the 

 large and big-bodied moths will probably not 

 die unless a little oxalic or nitric acid is applied 



