COLLECTING INSECTS. i[ 



symmetrically, so that the limbs on the right-hand side of 

 an insect are in the same position as those on the left. 



Hymenoptera may be captured with the ordinary 

 butterfly-net, and are found abundantly during the 

 summer. The larger species are pinned through the 

 centre of the thorax, and set in the same way as Cole- 

 optera, the smaller ones on card with gum. These in- 

 sects should, if possible, be made to fly into the vessel of 

 boiling water, as by this means they generally die with 

 their wings expanded, which is a great assistance when 

 setting them. This can usually be managed by holding 

 the box containing the specimen immediately over the 

 water, and giving it a sharp tap with the finger of the 

 other hand. 



Diptera are also captured with the net, and pinned in the 

 same way, but should be killed with the laurel bottle. 



Lepidoptera are the most difficult of all to collect, and 

 are at the same time the most attractive to beginners. 

 They may be captured with a net made of fine gauze 

 (mosquito net dyed green is the best material) ; the 

 frame to support the net is constructed of a piece of cane 

 bent into a hoop, each of the ends being supported in a 

 forked tube shaped like a Y> a d the long tube, forming the 

 base of the Y> ' ls firmly fitted on to the end of a walking- 

 stick. This form of net is light, strong, and easily made ; 

 the only thing requiring special attention is the Y> but this 

 can be readily made by any tinsmith out of two pieces 

 of gas-pipe of different sizes, the larger one for the stick, 

 and the smaller one for the ends of the cane to fit into. 

 The collector should also be furnishe.d with a number of 

 small tin boxes. 1 All this apparatus can easily be packed 

 into an ordinary satchel. 



1 For Lepidoptera I can strongly recommend "Jahncke's Patent Round 

 Boxes " with glass lids. They may be obtained from any chemist, or from 

 Messrs. Sharland & Co., Wholesale Druggists, Wellington. 



