Guide to Taxidermy 



175 



butterfly net is the instrument most often used. 

 The most simple form of net, that of a hoop of 

 wire, covered with muslin or mosquito netting, and 

 attached to the end of a stick is as effective as any 

 and can be made at home by anyone. The hoop 

 should be about a foot in diameter and the net 

 should bag about eighteen inches. Many forms of 

 folding nets have been made. The most service- 

 able one that we know of is one that is made for a 

 landing net for fishermen. You can find one at a 

 sporting goods house or at many hardware dealers. 

 Of course the fish net has to be removed and a fine 

 net bag substituted. It comes with a short handle 

 which may be replaced with a longer one if desired. 

 This net folds into a package about an inch in 

 diameter and a couple feet long, while when open 

 it is as rigid as a non-folding net. As soon as a 

 fly is caught a slight twist of the wrist will fold 

 the bag over the frame so as to imprison the insect 

 in the lower end. 



Of course the most perfect flies are those raised 

 from cocoons or chrysalids; these can often be 

 found on the ground or hanging to branches or 

 rails. Often you can get the worms or caterpillars 

 and by feeding them upon the leaves upon which 

 you find them, thev will usuallv transform them- 



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