while it is stiil in the net, and by gently pinching the thorax to disable the insect. 

 The fingers are applied from the outside, as shown in the illustration (see Plate D, Fig. 

 1 ) . Then the collector, unstoppering his jar, inserts it into the net and allows the but- 

 terfly to drop into the jar. Butterflies belonging to the family of the Hesperiidce, or 

 "skippers," are best captured in the net by holding up the end of the bag. The 

 insects will then fly upward and settle near the top of the bag. The collector puts 

 the open jar with his right hand into the ring of the net and holding the bag with 

 the left hand brings the jar under the butterfly, and then claps his left hand over 

 the mouth of the jar, thus securing the insect in the jar, where after a couple of 

 seconds it will be stunned by the fumes and fall to the bottom. Death is speedy, 

 but not instantaneous, and the insect should be allowed to remain a little while in 

 the jar. Having been asphyxiated by the fumes of the jar, the insect may then be 

 removed and either mounted upon a pin and transferred to a collecting box, which 

 will presently be described, or put into an envelope. It is well not to accumulate 

 too many insects in the collecting jar, as those which are caught later will injure 

 in their struggles those which have been caught first. I make it a rule to rapidly 

 transfer the insects from the collecting jars to the collecting boxes which I carry 

 with me. The preservation of specimens in perfect freshness, without torn or 

 ragged wings, is of the utmost importance, and it is better to take fewer specimens, 

 preserving them in immaculate condition, than to accumulate a quantity of ragged 



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