60 the taxidermist's guide. 



inches wide, and two-and-a-half to three inches deep. It must 

 have a layer of cork both in the bottom and top of the lid, in- 

 side, for attaching insects to, when caught during the day. The 

 larger insects are placed at the bottom, and the smaller ones on 

 the lid. 



The Entomological. — We next procure a net, as in fig. 26, 

 constructed similar to a bat-fowling net. This is either made of 

 fine gauze or coarse muslin ; it may either be green or white — 

 the latter is the best for observing small insects which may be 

 caught ; the green, however is better adapted for catching 

 Moths. The net-rods should be made of hickory, beech, hazel, 

 or holly; they ought to be five feet in length, quite round, 

 smooth, and tapering to an obtuse point, as at fig. 24 ; the ob- 

 lique cross-piece at the point should be of cane, and fitted into 

 the angular ferrule ; the rod must be divided into three or four 

 pieces, so that it may be taken asunder and carried in the pocket; 

 the upper part of each joint must have a ferrule affixed to it, for 

 the purpose of articulating the other pieces. Eaclr*joint should 

 have a notch or check to prevent the rod from twisting. 



The net itself, fig. 31, must have a welting all around it, doubled 

 so as to form a groove for the reception of the rods. In the 

 centre of the upper part or point it must have a small piece Oi 

 chamois leather, so as to form a kind of hinge; this must be 

 bound round the welting, and divided in the middle, so as to pre- 

 vent the cross pieces from slipping over each other; it shows 

 about four inches of the gauze turned up, so as to form a bag; 

 there are strings for the purpose of passing through the staple, 

 to which the net is firmly drawn on each side. When the net is 

 used a handle is to be held in each hand. 



If it is intended to take insects oh the wing, by means of this 

 net, for which it is admirably adapted, it may be folded together 

 in an instant. If the gauze is fine enough, and preserved whole, 

 even the smallest insect cannot escape. It may be also applied in 

 catching Coleopterous Insects, which are never on the wing, as 

 well as Caterpillars. When used for this purpose the Entomolo- 

 gist must hold it expanded under trees, while another must beat 

 the branches with a stick. Great numbers of both insects and 

 larva will fa}\ in the gauze, and by this means many hundreds 

 may be captured in a day. 



