No. 4. — 1848.] on collecting lepidoptera. 11 



I will now proceed to describe the best method of capturing 

 the perfect fly. Nets of various forms are used by collectors at 

 home and abroad. Of all, I prefer the common ring or bag 

 net. This is made of a thin piece of rattan, bent circular, and 

 fastened to a handle about three and a-half or four feet long, 

 according to the strength of the user. The best handle is a 

 ground rattan, about three-quarters of an inch in diameter; this 

 is light, flexible, and will not break in a rough fall. The ring 

 should be one foot and a-half in diameter — more, if practicable 

 and manageable, — and a permanent fixture to the handle. 



The net itself should be of some soft transparent material, 

 (silk gauze is best, as it least injures the down on the insect's 

 wings), shaped like a bag and about the depth of the user's arm, 

 to enable him to reach to the bottom and secure his capture. 

 The net should be fastened to the ring by a band of calico three 

 or four inches broad ; this is a great protection to the net when 

 striking at an insect resting on a leaf. A good-sized collecting 

 box is required to secure the captured insect, and should be 

 made with rounded corners to prevent an awkward bruise to the 

 owner in case of a fall. It should open easily when held in one 

 hand— by a spring is preferable — leaving the other at liberty to 

 handle the specimen. It should also be lined at the top and 

 bottom with cork, or kirrilla-mulla a substance more fully 

 described hereafter — to receive the pins. For this, and other 

 tropical climates, let the boxes be twice the size of those used 

 at home. 



Thus equipped, let the collector (who should be dressed in 

 darkish clothes) repair to any open space in the jungle between 

 the hours of 7 and 10 a.m.; after that time it becomes too hot, 

 and the insects keep in the deep shade. Let him select an 

 overhanging tree, affording him shelter from the sun, and a 

 screen from the insects, and from thence watch his insect game 

 come gliding past, or hovering over some favourite flower, and 

 use his best efforts to capture it. Practice will teach this better 



