PRESERVATION OF INSECTS. 265 



With this instrument all water insects are taken ; 

 the water straining off through the net, and the 

 insects remaining at the bottom. 



850. The same net, or another lighter one of 

 similar form, screwed on a similar or the same 

 stick, is called the sweeping net, and is used for 

 sweeping grass, on which myriads of minute in- 

 sects are always to be found : the weeds on the 

 banks of rivers and canals are also excessively 

 productive in insects, which can only be taken in 

 this manner. 



851. The clap net is the grand weapon of the 

 entomologist : it is a large piece of muslin, four 

 feet long, and nearly three wide. It is supported 

 on two light rods, which pass along a border made 

 of brown holland, or other strong substance, bent 

 towards each other at an obtuse angle, and 

 meet at the top of the net : one of these rods is 

 held in each hand. 



852. This net is the best for pursuing butter- 

 flies and moths on the wing ; the hunter tries to 

 get the net under the object, and strikes upwards, 

 closing the rods at the same time. A loose bag is 

 formed, by a fold of the muslin, across the bottom 

 of the net : this prevents any thing from getting 

 out. The same net is held in one hand under 

 the boughs of trees, &c., while these are beat by 

 the stick of the water net held in the other hand ; 

 and thus, besides perfect insects, a great number 

 of caterpillars may be obtained. 



