14 



A handy boy can readily make an insect net for himself. All that 

 he requires is a broom handle, three feet of stout wire, a little heavy 

 sheeting, and one yard of cheese cloth. The wire can be bent into a 

 circle of about ten inches in diameter and the ends fastened firmly into 

 the end oi the broom handle. The cheese cloth is made into a bag and 

 attached to the band of sheeting which folds over the wire. (Fig. 12.) 



The collector will be a little awkward at first in the. use of the 

 insect net, but with practice the wiliest and most rapid of insects may 

 be captured. Care is needed in transferring the insects from the 

 net to the cyanide bottles lest the wings and legs should be injured. 



Fig. 12. The Insect Net. 



Fig. 13. The Insect and the Boy. 



Moths and butterflies when captured seldom die with their wings 

 outspread so it is necessary to use spreading boards for those forms 

 which we desire to preserve in this position. (Fig. 14) shows the con- 

 struction and use of a spreading board. Two pieces of pine, fasten- 

 ed together by cleats at the end, are left wide enough apart to admit 

 the body of the insect. Na]'row strips of cork are then tncked on 

 the under side of the pine strips so as to form a bottom to the groove 

 and to serve as a support for the pin upon which the insect is placed. 

 Another broad strip is nailed to the cleats and forms the base of the 

 spreading-board. Of course the insects must be pinned to the 

 spreading-board before they have time to become brittle, and while 

 they are in a relaxed condition. It will require some patience and 

 skill to spread the wings of the smaller moths without injuring them, 

 but practice will make perfect. 



