225 
COLLECTING APPARATUS 
NOTES UPON COLLECTING AND COLLECTIONS. 
The following notes of methods of catching’, linndling:, storing and arranging buttertlies, involve the 
repelition of much information already known to collectors, l)ut will be of value to beginners. They 
are methods we have ourselves used and found successful. 
In northern Australia with its scniitropical climate, butterflies are most al)undant shortly after the 
close of the rainy season, but a number of species may be taken on tlie wing every month of the year. 
. 1 ?we 20 south the season shortens: in Sydney the only months, in -which it is diflicult to find any bntter- 
ilies, are June and July: in Melbourne none are to be talcen in i\ray, June, July and August: in 
Ta?mimia their season is still more restricted, lasting only from Octol)er to April. "We are wu-iting 
of average years, but seasonal variations hasten or retard the times of appearance: an occasional 
libemating specimen may be tempted out in the winter months by mild Aveatber and sunshine, even in 
tk south of Tasmania. 
A large number of species appear on the wing for a few months only of each year: others have 
two broods Avith a consequently longer season: some fcAv haA’e suecessional broods, and in some favoured 
lof-alities in Ihe far north may be taken every month of the year’. 
The morning is tlie best time of day to find butterflies on the Aving: as soon as the sun begins to 
cive appreciable Avannth and on to noon or a little later, they ai’e at their best. As far as southern 
Australia Is concerned A’ery feAV species fly fr-eely after three in fhe afternoon. Fine calm bright days 
are (he best, high Avinds and dull cloudy Aveatber causing most butterflies to take shelter: but a dull 
fc is always preferable to a windj’ one. 
Some species are found in ihe forest eonntiw only, others in the scrub, and others prefer the grassy 
[tlains. Some feAv frequent damp AA’ooded gidlies, but a much greater numl)er are to l)e found on the 
snmniils and slopes of the hills. Some are taken at sealevel and others never beloAA’ 5000 ft. In thick 
sfnib country the roads and paths and small clearings are the best hunting grounds: in the north 
Sowing trees provide great attractions for many butterflies, and piroA’e a A’eritable treasury to the 
wlktor. Afany butterflies are only to be found in close proximity to the foodplants of their larvae, 
kt others seem to roam far and Avide. Some are very local in their habits being found season after 
>eason in the one gully or on the one hillside or summit, in spite of the fact that their foodplant occurs 
in many adjacent spots. Some fly round the tree tops and rarely come doAAui AAuthin reach of the net, 
dde others flit along close to the grotind. Wherever vegetation is met Avith some butterflies are taken, 
Mil in the most rocky and barren spots they are not altogether absent. 
The great majority of the Australian butterflies are confined to the coastal districts and the mountain 
ranges. Not more than forty species have yet been recorded farther inland than the spni’ts of the 
main divide: Ave knoAv of no Australian butterfly that lias not been taken Avitbin a hundred miles of the 
ml 
COLLECTING APPAEATUS AND HOAY TO USE IT. 
Tile principal tools needed for collecting butterflies are a net, tAVo killing bottles, a cork lined pocket 
knvith a dozen or tAA'o entomological pins in one corner, and a small supply of glass-bottomed pill 
boxes. 
This can be made in many different styles, ranging from a length of bush cane or fencing Avire 
looped and bound to the end of a stick, to the folding pocket net AAutli telescopic handle. A home- 
niade net is often quite as effectAe as the most expensL'e, if it be liorne in mind that the tAVo points 
to aim at are a luaximum of strength and a minimum of Avoigbt. A simple strong and bandy net can 
be made with little trouble from a metal rod and an ordinary brass ferule. Bend the rod into a ring, 
turn back the tA\’o ends and plug and solder them into the inner ferule: then fix the outer ferule 
on the end of the net stick or handle. The diameter of ihe ring should not be less than twelve inches, 
and for general collecting the handle not more than four feet long. The net bag should be made oi 
sreen muslin, mosquito net or other soft and thm material, and should be joined to the net ring y 
a^hengthening binding of calico. The bag should be long enough for the side of the riiig to close its 
bwer half when the ring is held a little past the vertical position ; for the tAveh’e inch ring it 
nearly two feet in depth, tapering from the twelve inch diameter at the ring to a six inch bottom 
well rounded corners. 
