PRESERVATION OF INSECTS. 3.67 



dispositions of a few. We may advantageously adopt 

 these methods when we wish to furnish our cages 

 with live insects, in order to study their economy. 



One of the most useful and handy instruments for 

 this purpose is an umbrella. In walking through a 

 meadow, for instanc, where the grass is not too 

 short, we may stretch the umbrella, hold the hollow 

 side uppermost, and push it through the grass, when 

 the insects which may be above its level will fall into 

 the trap. In this way we have procured the cater- 

 pillars of saw-flies, moths, and butterflies, which 

 feed on grass and on the other herbage in meadows, 

 where we might probably have searched for them in 

 vain by the eye. The sides of drains and ditch- 

 banks may be trailed in the same manner. The 

 butterfly-nets, to be afterwards described, may be 

 used in the same way, and are, we think, superior 

 to the apparatus invented by Mr. Paul, of Starston 

 in Norfolk, for taking the turnip-fly. 



The umbrella is equally useful for holding under 

 the branches of shrubs and trees, which ought to be 

 beaten smartly over it with a strong walking-stick, 

 the shock of the strokes causing the insects to drop 

 down. This, however, will only answer for the 

 smaller and lower branches : when it is required to 

 beat the higher boughs, a long pole must be used, 

 with a sheet or a piece of canvass spread under the 

 tree. The tops of the taller plants may be shaken 

 by the hand over the umbrella. 



When insects are thus found, it will be necessary 

 to secure them, in order to take them to the cages 

 uninjured, to be provided with a number of pill- 

 boxes, with pin-holes drilled in them to admit air, 

 arid to introduce, particularly along with caterpillars, 

 a bit of the fresh leaf or other substance upon which 

 they have been feeding. We prefer separate, small 

 boxes for such purposes, to the larger larvee-box in 



