viii INTRODUCTION 



should be drawn through the water with considerable speed- 

 consideration must be allowed for obstacles, as a net can be 

 very easily destroyed by submerged wood, rocks, &c. On lifting 

 it out care must be taken to allow some of the water to escape, 

 or else the strain occasioned may lead to the tearing of the net ; 

 a very sad occurrence, when one is ardent with much work to do. 

 It is advisable when lifting out the net to seize it as near to its 

 contents as possible. The net should then be opened and 

 turned gradually inside out, the contents placed in various 

 bottles in just enough water to allow free movement. 



Small pieces of decaying wood, unhealthy discoloured weeds 

 should be placed in other jars (in water), for these are certain 

 to be the homes of various creatures, specially rotifers, and 

 other animalcules that seem to have a depraved taste for decom- 

 posing vegetable matter. 



Any creature of particular interest should be put with others 

 of a kindly disposition, or the collector may have a similar ex- 

 perience to the writer, who having caught a very large and 

 comparatively rare larva, unfortunately placed it with various 

 smaller creatures, under the mistaken idea that the weakest 

 goes to the wall. But on reaching home, he found his rarity 

 " hanging up by its neck," in the jaws of the larva of a small 

 water-beetle, less than half the size of its victim. 



The larvae of water-beetles, when placed in close quarters, are 

 only too ready to make the most of their opportunities, and the 

 other inhabitants are very soon reduced in numbers care 

 therefore must be taken to place ferocious animals in special 

 jars, and allow them to wreak their vengeance on things for 

 which you have no particular interest. On reaching home, the 

 various creatures should be separated 



