Post by nomad on May 31, 2015 16:28:38 GMT
You might believe it would be a simple matter to invent a butterfly net to catch insects. In Britain, the round or ring net was used as early as 1711 by the English Aurelian James Petiver, who visited Holland and returned home with one. Petiver never referred to his new acquisition as a net but as a 'flycatcher '. The early British entomologists called themselves Aurelians, but the public who saw them, called them flycatchers and thought they were all a wee bit mad. The ring net design was not popular among the early British Aurelians except for catching water insects and they usually used a net known as a bat-fowler or clap-net . This was a piece of muslin held between two poles and the user had to clap it together to entrap his specimens. The original use of the more modem clap-net was for catching bats and small birds such as house sparrows resting in Ivy. The clap-net was widely sold in 18th & 19th century Britain. The origins of the design for the clap-net was in the Middle Ages, when strings were used to pull it together to trap birds. It must have been a very clumsy net to use but the well known English entomologists Edward Newman and the Reverend F.O. Morris collecting in the middle of the 19th century would use no other. Slowly the old clap-net fell in disuse, although it was surprisingly still being used by a collector Mr Smith in Britain as late as 1919. I believe the clumsy clap or bat-fowler net was not used on the continent of Europe? Their collectors probably started with the ring net. Petiver visited Holland in 1711 to study with Dutch entomologists and they were certainly it seems using a round net to catch flying insects.
Figure 1 - The famous book the ' Aurelian ' by Moses Harris published in 1766, with frontispiece showing the author collecting insects with a clap or bat-fowler net.
Figure 2 - Plate 11 from George Samouelle's ' The Entomologist's Useful Compendium ' published in 1819. Showing figure 4, the clap-net used for flying insects. The round net shown on this plate, figure 4, was used for catching aquatic beetles and other water insects.
Figure 3 - A selection of nets figured by F.O. Morris ' in his book ' History of Butterfly Collecting ' published in 1853. Interestingly the drawings show both the round and clap-net. It also shows Morris's take on the emperor Apatura iris high net, his poles were made of lightweight bamboo and some fifty foot in length. The Reverend must have been a wonderful sight wielding such a hugh net.
Figure 4 - A photograph sent to me by Amy of Watkins and Doncaster showing a group of collectors relaxing in a New Forest pub during 1919, enjoying a pint of beer. The clap-net can be seen on the table, the owner Mr Smith who was with this collecting party was presumably taking the photograph.
Figure 5 - It was thought that no clap or bat-flower net survived but one surfaced in the Hope Department at Oxford during 2007 but without its muslin bag. A replica bag was made for it.
Figure 6 - The frame of a early Victorian Ring Net.
A question for our members, what is the earliest picture or reference, that you have seen in your part of the world, to the use of a butterfly net. Perhaps Michel has seen one in his early books.
Next Pins and things.
Figure 1 - The famous book the ' Aurelian ' by Moses Harris published in 1766, with frontispiece showing the author collecting insects with a clap or bat-fowler net.
Figure 2 - Plate 11 from George Samouelle's ' The Entomologist's Useful Compendium ' published in 1819. Showing figure 4, the clap-net used for flying insects. The round net shown on this plate, figure 4, was used for catching aquatic beetles and other water insects.
Figure 3 - A selection of nets figured by F.O. Morris ' in his book ' History of Butterfly Collecting ' published in 1853. Interestingly the drawings show both the round and clap-net. It also shows Morris's take on the emperor Apatura iris high net, his poles were made of lightweight bamboo and some fifty foot in length. The Reverend must have been a wonderful sight wielding such a hugh net.
Figure 4 - A photograph sent to me by Amy of Watkins and Doncaster showing a group of collectors relaxing in a New Forest pub during 1919, enjoying a pint of beer. The clap-net can be seen on the table, the owner Mr Smith who was with this collecting party was presumably taking the photograph.
Figure 5 - It was thought that no clap or bat-flower net survived but one surfaced in the Hope Department at Oxford during 2007 but without its muslin bag. A replica bag was made for it.
Figure 6 - The frame of a early Victorian Ring Net.
A question for our members, what is the earliest picture or reference, that you have seen in your part of the world, to the use of a butterfly net. Perhaps Michel has seen one in his early books.
Next Pins and things.