The lamp above described was used daily in my yawl but the other fittings were on a more enlarged scale, as extreme lightness was not then required.
The Norwegian Cooking Apparatus of another kind entirely will be a valuable adjunct to the yachtsman’s stores. By means of this, meat or pudding after being heated for only five minutes, and then enclosed in a box which retains the heat, will be found to be perfectly cooked after three hours, though no more heat has been applied to it.
Since John Macgegor used this stove there have been other wickless stoves invented, and sold at more moderate prices. For instance there are the Primus and the Optimus and the Wickless oil stove of the Wilson Engineering Company. Several such stoves, of which two are illustrated here, are included in the lists of Messrs. A. W. Gamage, Ltd., and they are useful indoors and in the open.
CHAPTER XI.
BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS
For those boys who have the good fortune to live in Britain, few hobbies are better or more enticing than collecting butterflies and moths.
The following apparatus will be enough to start with: (1) a butterfly net; (2) a few dozens of one ounce and two ounce deep willow pill-boxes, which may be strengthened by a little liquid shellac glue run round the inside edges; (3) a handbag which excludes the light; (4) a two-pound biscuit-tin with tightly-fitting lid; (5) a zinc pinning box, cork lined; (6) some entomological pins in three sizes; (7) some setting boards or blocks; and (8) a store box for keeping the specimens when dry enough to remove from the setting boards. We will now consider these items in detail.
The butterfly net can quite easily be home-made, though, where money is plentiful, it is best bought with the other things above named. To make the net-frame, obtain from a dealer what is called a Y-piece, in brass tube. Then obtain a piece of short walking-stick, not more than two feet long, which will fit into the lower section of the Y, which has a broader tube than the two upper sections. A short stick is always best, because more handy and sure in manipulation when catching the butterflies. Into the upper sections of the Y place the ends of a piece of cane about three or four feet long, being careful that each end of the cane fits tightly into the brass sockets. Then get a lady friend to make for you a green or white leno-muslin bag net, with a brown calico hem attached, into which the cane runs. This net should be made just deep enough to reach with the hand to the bottom, or an inch or so deeper only. Mind the bottom is made round, and not jelly-bag shaped with a point, which will ruin nearly all your captures before they are secured. Before using the net, have the muslin steeped in water for a whole night, so as to take all the stiffness out of the muslin. It will require several rinsings before the size is all removed, and it becomes quite soft. Never mind the loss of colour if green—it will only look the more workman-like. In using the net to catch the specimens, like so many other things, it requires practice to make perfect; but when once the knack is obtained, it should be a rare thing to miss a specimen. Don’t race after them, but wait until the butterfly hovers over a flower, or flies steadily past, then, with a bold, steady stroke, catch it in the centre of the net opening, at the same moment giving the wrist a sharp half-turn, which will close the mouth of the net, and so secure the novelty.