of the handle. Fold the band down over the wire of the hoop, turn the free edge under about a quarter of an inch, and overcast it to the seam at the top of the neeting, as shown in fig. 8. This strip of heavy cloth Fig. 8. Sewing the bag to the hoop. at the rim of the net can take a great deal more abuse than can the delicate mesh, and greatly prolongs the utility of the net. When the net is finished make a few practice swings with it. If the handle is too long for your convenience, cut it down to a length which you can manage easily. In the handling of a net, ma- neuverability is more important than reach. USE OF THE AERIAL NET A net of this kind is used principally to capture insects on the wing. Only experience can teach you how to approach each kind, for some, when alarmed, will fly upward while others drop, or dodge. Once in the net, how- ever, a specimen may be kept there by quickly inverting the rim of the net, thus bringing the bag together and keeping it closed by its own weight. This is a basic trick of the insect collector, and should be practiced until it be- comes automatic. It is diagrammed in fig. 9. The process of getting the insect out of the net and into the killing jar although compli- cated to describe, soon becomes easy to per- form. Assuming that you handle your net with the right hand, grasp the net fabric be- tween the left thumb and forefinger so as to imprison the specimen in the smallest possible fold of cloth. Let go of the net handle, and, taking the killing bottle in your right hand, open it by grasping the lid or cork between the third or fourth finger and heel of the left hand. Insert the bottle into the net, as close to the specimen as you can get it. Release your hold on the net fabric and use the left hand to drop or knock the insect into the bottle and keep it there by covering the bottle's mouth with the palm. With practice, you will learn Fig. 9. Aerial net in operation. Fig. 10. Removing a butterfly from the net.