PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRD ENTOMOLOGICAL MEETING 94& 



used. An active insect may change its position whilst the eye is taken 

 off it and then be frightened away for ever when endeavouring to locate 

 it anew, and many apparently inactive insects are nevertheless acutely 

 conscious of discovery and move or drop off immediately they perceive 

 that observation has been removed from them, even momentarily. 



When approaching an active insect, which is to be netted, it is 

 important to approach it from the side opposite to that from which the 

 sun is shining, as a shadow may easily startle it away. 



Besides the ordinary " general service " net, the collector may use 

 other nets for special purposes. Such nets are Micro-nets for the collec- 

 tion of minute insects, sweep-nets for collecting insects from herbage, 

 water-nets for securing aquatic insects and scissors nets for the capture 

 of Hymenoptera oft" flowers, etc. 



Micro-nets are simply small-sized nets of the ordinary pattern but 

 made of very fine silk gauze or chifl'on. They are extremely useful 

 for the capture of small and delicate Lepidoptera, Diptera, etc., but 

 require careful use as the material of the bag is necessarily very thin 

 torn. 



Sweep-nets on the contrary are larger editions of the ordinary 

 pattern, with a stoutly-built rim (preferably of metal) and stout bag 

 made of cheese-cloth or similar material. They are used to drag over 

 and through herbage and vegetation generally, especially for the collec- 

 tion of Colcoptera, Ehynchota, and Orthoptera, and are therefore neces- 

 sarily of stout construction to withstand wear and tear under such 

 conditions. In use, frequent examination of small lots of contents is 

 better than less frequent examination of large masses of material. 



Water-nets, as their name implies, are used for the capture of aquatic 

 insects on and in water. The ordinary " general service " net may be 

 used for this (as also for sweeping) at a pinch, but rough use of this sort 

 will not tend to its longevity. Water-nets may be of the folding pattern, 

 adjustable to any stick (in which case it is as well to secure the net 

 securely to the stick with a length of cord also La case the clamp should 

 slip whilst the net is in use) or they may be made simply of a stout 

 ring of round metal rod fastened securely into a permanent stout handle 

 which should be six or seven feet long for effective use. The metal 

 rim is best made of galvanized iron. The bag, made of light canvas 

 or similar material, should be comparatively .shallow, as it is not required 

 to be closed over to prevent the escape of captures, as is a land-net, 

 and it is uncomfortable to remove specimens from the bottom of a deep 

 bag when it is wet. (Plate 149, fig. 1). 



