COLLECTING AND PRESERVING INSECTS RILEY. 



[27] 



never have been espied amid its protective surroundings. Some collec- 

 tors use an umbrella painted or lined on tbe inside with white, to facili- 

 tate the detection of any object that drops into it; but as there are fully 

 as many, if not more, pale and white insects as there are dark or black 

 ones, the common dark umbrella is good enough for all ordinary pur- 

 poses; and if any imjDrovement on the ordinary cotton umbrelhi is 

 desired, it should be in the way of a joint or knuckle about the middle 

 of the handle, which will facilitate its j)acking and using. The trowel 

 is valuable for prying off the loosened bark from old trees, whether 

 felled or standing, and for digging into the ground or into decaying 

 stumps and logs. The haversack is for the carriage of different kinds 

 of boxes (those made of tin being best) intended for larval and other 

 forms which it is necessary to bring home alive for breeding purposes ; 

 and if made with a partition so that the filled and empty boxes may be 

 separated, all the better ; it may also be used for nets and other ai3pa- 

 ratus to be mentioned, and for such provender as is necessary on the 

 trip. The knapsack may be made on the i)lau of a cartridge box, of 

 stout canvas or leather, and should be of moderate size and slung onto the 

 belt so as to be slipped to any i)art of the waist and not hinder free bod- 

 ily motion. It may be used to carry bottles, phials, and other small 

 appliances, and should be accordingly partitioned and furnished with 

 loops or pockets on the inside. The cigar-box is for the reception of 

 pinned specimens, and maybe slipped onto the belt, or buttoned to the 

 trousers by means of leather. 



"The greatest requisites in collecting are a pair of sharp eyes and 



ready hands, with coolness 

 and self-possession; but a few 

 traps will materially aid. One 

 of the most important is the 

 hand-net, which may be made 

 so as to subserve the two pur- 

 poses of a sweeping and an 

 air-net." 



" The frame of the net which 

 I use is illustrated herewith 

 (Fig. 44), and will be found 

 strong and serviceable and 

 conveniently portable. It is 

 constructed as follows : Take 

 two pieces of stout brass wire, 

 each about 20 inches long; 

 bend them half-circularly and 

 at one end by a folding hinge 

 having a check on one side, h. 

 The other ends are bent and beaten into two square sockets,/, which 

 fit to a nut sunk and soldered into one end of a brass tube, d. When 



Pig. 44.— The Butterfly net-frame. 



