Page:De Vismes Kane-European Butterflies.djvu/18

 ring or hoop should be not more than 11 to 12 in. in diameter, of as slight as wire as is compatible with rigidity, and the instrument when put together should be well balanced, and in no case top-heavy.

The cigar-box to contain the specimens should be divided by a partition transversely to its length, and must be filled with envelopes made after the following fashion : — Take some well glazed and fairly stout letter paper, cut it into rectangular pieces of differing sizes, which, when folded square, can be made by the aid of a pair of scissors and some gum into triangular envelopes, after the following pattern. These can be stowed away in the cigar-box till wanted, for tkey mutt he on no account creased.

When the hour for the chase has arrived, one compartment of the cigar-box should be emptied, leaving the other full of various-sized envelopes.

In chasing a butterfly on the wing' a short handle gives more certainty to the stroke. The use of the wrist is more important than that of the shoulder, and the insect should be followed up with the net till a short, sharp snatch enables you to bag it. In taking one flying past, strike after, and not at the quarry. When netted, turn the hoop so as to block the opening for escape.

Not a moment then is to be lost in killing it, lest the wings become damaged by its struggles.

When, therefore, the wings are closed over the back, pinch the thorax (the middle part of the body to which the wings are attached) firmly between the tips of your fingers, and so hold it for a short time. Then shake it out of the net, and drop it head foremost into an envelope of suitable size (too large a one is as bad as a very small one), so that the costa (or fore margin) of the wings lies along the hypotenuse of the triangle (see Figure), and consign it to the box, with a bit of