48 
BRITISH BEETLES. 
CHAPTER VII. 
HINTS ON COLLECTING. 
In the body of this work the most usual haunts of 
the different families will be pointed out ; but a few 
general remarks on collecting may also be of service. 
The best time for beating is at the end of May and 
beginning of June, and the most productive trees are 
young oaks, hazels, poplars, and sallows. Sweeping 
commences when the beating-net is no longer useful, 
and continues all through the summer and autumn ; 
patches of wild flowers on the edges of woods and 
fields, damp meadows, and water plants, being all good 
for this work. In early spring and summer many good 
things are to be found in sand-pits, especially if they 
have straight cut sides ; the reason being that the 
insects fly in the evening wildly, hit against the steep 
banks, and fall half-stupefied. 
The very best times in the year for collecting are 
in the early warm days of spring up to the middle of 
June, and late in the autumn, at the end of Septem- 
ber : this is easily accounted for, as most insects come 
out of the pupa condition about the latter time, 
hybernate during the winter months, and come out 
again in the next spring. Hence there are absolutely 
more beetles to be had in December (though of course 
in a state of inactivity) than in August; during which 
