METHOD OF COLLECTING, &C. 193 



insects, the collector must beat the branches of trees 

 into his folding gauze net, as also hedges, nettles, 

 and other plants, on which these larvae feed, or 

 to which many of the pupae are suspended by the 

 tail. 



In searching for moths which fly by night, the 

 London collectors have a lantern constructed with 

 a concave back, and provided with a reflector be- 

 hind. This lantern is fastened round the body of 

 the lepidopterist, about the region of the stomach, 

 by means of a belt. The fly net should be held 

 >pen in front by the collector, when all those noc- 

 turnal flying moths will be entrapped which come 

 within the influence of the light, to which they are 

 naturally attracted. In hot and close summer 

 evenings, if a candle is placed on the table of a 

 summer house, or in other rooms, with the windows 

 open, it will be found that many of the night 

 flying lepidoptera will be thereby attracted. 



When taking lepidopterous insects by means of 

 brceps, they should be as widely expanded as pos- 

 ible, and the insect should be approached with 

 great caution. When the entomologist has ap- 

 >roached sufficiently near, the instrument should 

 e quickly closed on the animal, including the leaf 

 n which it is settled. When the prey is secured, 

 'gentle pressure with the finger and thumb is ap- 

 lied to the thorax below the wings, which soon 

 ills it. 



