COIil^ECTING APPARATUS 
226 
The actual netting’ of tlie butterflies and their transference to the killing bottle can only be learnt 
by exjieriinent; one half hour's practice is better than the most careful and minute instructions. A 
short quick stroke is needed^ with a half turn of the wrist to close the bag when the butterfly is safely 
inside. A long swinging stroke gives the insect ]>lenty of lime to escape, Avhile the short sharp stroke can 
in the event of a miss be quickly repeated. 
The coniie-paper caricature of tlie butterfly ‘hnaniac" running doAvn his ]n'ey is jusl as false as the 
vulgar belief that the butterfly is killed l)y the Iransflxing pin. Patient watching and cautious stalkin" 
secure a great many more specimens than the most vigorous of '^sprinting": the condition of a butterflv 
left to die upon the i)in Avould disgust the crudest of collectors. 
Some butterflies are fond of settling on leaf or twig, and can be ai)]Aroached cautiously and netted 
more easily from that position than Avhen on the Aving. Others delight in settlingou bare iiath or rock and 
are more dilflcult to secure: our ]ilan Aviih these is to ai)]n*oach very slowly to Avitliin striking distance, 
drop the net smartly oA^er the resting butterfly, keep the ring tightly against the ground or rock, raise the 
bag, and, as the captive flies up to the top, gather the loAver portion of the net bag into the left hand 
ready for the insertion of the killing bottle. 
Killing bottle. We recommend an eight-oz. wide mouthed ])ottle holding small pieces of cyanide of 
potassium embedded in plaster of paris, and Avith a circle of soft cloth or Idotting paper gummed 
to the surface of the plaster. These can he obtained, ready charged, from almost any chemist, and 
as the cyanide is a A*ery active and dangerous poison, it is not Avise for a beginner to try to charge liis 
killing bottles himself. 
When using the bottle in the field Ave prefer a stout Avell fitting cork to a ground glasg stopper; a 
string can then attach the cork to the neck of the bottle, and the danger of mislaying the stopper Avliile 
bottling the netted butterfly is aA'oided. 
The fumes of hydrocyanic acid gas given off by the liotlle Avill stupify the insect in a fcAv moments, 
and it should at once be emptied into a second charged bottle, to make ready the first for a neAv capture: 
when stupified a number may be kejit in the one bottle, )>iit to inil a living and fluttering butterfly in 
with them would mean damage to all. II is avcII to have a thick pad of cottonwool upon the surface of 
the plaster in the second bottle: after a quarter of an hour the butterfly will be dead and must then be 
carefully pinned and transferred to tlie cork lined pocket box: if In-ouglit borne in the bottle the joltim^ 
recoiA’ed is almost sure to <lamage the specimen. 
When the killing bottle becomes Avealc leaA*e it uncorked for half an hour in a damp atmosphere; 
the moisture absorlied Avill release the fumes and make the bottle fit for further use. 
Some collectors discard tlie killing bottle, and ]n-aetice instead the (juicker but clumsier method of 
killing tbeir captures by sharply pinching tlie thorax from beneath. This is unavoidable Avhen the butter- 
fly captured is too big for the poison liottle carried, but is only excusable in that case: lioAvever carefullv 
it IS done the legs are ahvays liable to damage, and the thorax Avill often be dislortefl. makino- tlie 
successful setting of tlie butterfly aa'cII nigh imjiossible. 
Pocket Pox.^ 1 his may he made of zme or Avood. Zinc is preferalile as the cork mav then be keot 
(iamin \V ith a damp box the liutlerflies are prevented from drving too (iiiickh'. Bv inimin^-throii4 
he side ot the lliorax beneath the wings, four or five butterllies can often be held bv the one^ pin and 
tlie space in tlie box economised. * ^ 
n the butterflies are carried for long in the poison liottle they heconio rubbed and spoilt: fifteen 
minutes should kill (he strongest of them, and tlieii the sooner they are )iinned and in the pocket box 
the better: lust sec that the wings are folded over the hacdc. leaving the nmlersnrface onlv visible. It 
IS (hllicult to in-event some Imtterllies reversing llieir wing.s in the killing hollle, hut a I’illle natieiico 
With forceps and pm will turn them back again 
Glassbottomed Boxes. I hese may bo had in nests of three or four, and may he carried loose in the 
I ocvet, or betfer in a collecting box made to liold a number of tlio nests. A specially largo and wide 
insido coat pocket is hamly for receiving the tilted boxes. They are somewhat fragile, and are onlv 
infhi Si Init for Ihese they save miieii time and trouble 
the field, and bring the spocunens home alive in the very best condition. Transforred from the net 
Inechnin 'f'' n' ‘ T '"'I’tares can be .at once e.xamined. and damaged or inule.siro(l 
dav m Tvnt’J these |)dll)oxes it must not he forgotten that an mmsnallv hot 
n’ 1 ’’'c f'lle't ho.xcs to the sun, may kill the hidterllv in the ho.x, and it will llien be 
rubbed and similt ,pist as surely as if carried too long in the killing lioflle. 
