THE HABITS AND STRUCTURE OF MOTHS. 
XXIX 
the ring is attached a funnel-shaped net of green gauze or 
muslin, about three feet long, and rounded off at the end ; 
this is attached to the ring by some stiff material. A screw 
ending in a ferrule is used to insert in the stick when the 
net is dismounted. The advantages of this apparatus are, 
that the net is well-balanced, neither too light nor too heavy, 
it is very compact and portable, and a good reach of handle 
is allowed by the whole length of the stick being available. 
Another form of net consists of a stick with two elastic steel 
bands passing from the end along the sides, and a net at¬ 
tached to them. When not required for use the steel pieces 
are allowed to rest against the sides of the stick with the 
muslin rolled round them, and a case is pulled up over it, 
giving the apparatus the appearance of an umbrella. When 
required for use the proximal ends of the steel bands are 
pushed up, and when they are sufficiently bowed to form a 
circle, are kept in position by an umbrella-catch. This form 
of net is not so good as that first described, for the reach is 
shorter, and the mouth of the net is bisected by the stick. 
When collecting several kinds of boxes should be carried 
by the entomologist. The most convenient collecting-boxes 
are wooden or metal ones about six inches by four, and about 
three inches deep. They should be lined on both sides with 
cork or turf. Besides these a number of pill-boxes should 
be carried to receive small moths. When a moth is found 
resting on a tree-trunk, fence, &c., the pill-box is carefully 
brought close to it with the lid at an angle ready to slip on. 
The moth when disturbed takes to the wing, and probably 
will dart into the box, the lid of which is immediately closed 
over it. 
Poison bottles are always necessary to kill thick-bodied 
moths, which would be spoilt if the thorax were nipped be¬ 
tween the finger and thumb, as is usually done with butter¬ 
flies and with slender-bodied moths. One of the best poisons 
to use is chloroform; this may be carried in a drop-bottle (a 
bottle so constructed that only a drop or two comes out at a 
time), and a few drops are allowed to fall on the moth, which 
is anaesthetised, impaled with a pin, and placed in the collect¬ 
ing-box, where the confined vapour soon kills the insect. 
Oxalic acid, cyanide of potassium, nicotine, &c., are also 
sometimes used for killing moths, and ammonia is much 
used for pill-box captures. 
Sugaring is a mode of collecting moths which is often 
employed with good results. Various mixtures are used for 
the purpose, such as treacle, or brown sugar and beer, 
flavoured with rum, apple, pear, aniseed, &c. These are 
