THE USE OF THE NET 181 



purposes nowadays. Place a few layers of 

 clean blotting-paper in the bottom, and pour 

 half a dozen drops of benzine upon the 

 blotting-paper. An insect placed in the box 

 will be instantly killed. You may substitute 

 cyanide of potassium, or bruised leaves and 

 shoots of laurel, for the benzine, if you 

 prefer these. I always use the more con- 

 venient and safer benzine. 



The right use of the net is by no means 

 easily acquired. All haste and excitement 

 are to be avoided, and the stroke should 

 be made if possible when the butterfly is 

 settled upon a flower or other object. Special 

 care must be taken in the vicinity of thorny 

 or prickly plants, particularly brambles, as 

 want of care will lead to the entanglement 

 and destruction of the net. 



The most remarkable experience I have 

 had in the matter of netting a butterfly was 

 the capture of a specimen of the Painted 

 Lady (Pyrameis cardui). My brother and 

 I observed the insect near an old tower in 

 an open space amongst trees. It was so 

 restless, that we could not approach it while 

 settled, and when on the wing, it soared 



