NIGHT BUTTERFLIES. 11 



THE CAPTURING OF NIGHT BUTTERFLIES OR MOTHS 



(HETEROCERES). 



For these a different mode is necessary; a glass jar like the one used in 

 taking Hesperidae, but if a little wider it will be no disadvantage, should be 

 provided ; in the bottom of this should be placed a number of pieces of Cy- 

 anide of Potash, over these plaster of Paris mixed with water to the con- 

 sistency of molasses, should be poured to the depth of an inch or so until the 

 Cyanide is just about covered ; in a short time the plaster will become set 

 and the bottle or jar thus prepared will be fit for use for a long time. During 

 the day many small moths may be detected on the underside of leaves, in 

 shady corners on rocks, under the eaves of out-houses, &c. ; when one is de- 

 tected hold the jar over him close to the object on which he is sitting, and he 

 will become overpowered by the fumes of the drug and drop into the jar from 

 whence he may be taken out and killed. This mode is the best that can be 

 used for taking Catocalas ; these fine moths during the day sit on the trunks of 

 trees, and are scarcely distinguishable from the bark thereof, as their grey 

 lichen-looking upper wings entirely conceal the splendor of the scarlet, or 

 yellow under wings, but by looking carefully on the trunks of the trees from 

 the roots up to as high as you can reach you may detect their presence, then 

 cautiously and carefully clap the poisoned jar over them ; the noise caused by 

 your tramping over the dead leaves will often rouse them from their hiding 

 places, and when they again alight you will have opportunity to secure them. 

 The Catocalae are always in much demand for exchanging, and whenever a 

 a species is present you may look for it in numbers ; they occur in oak and 

 chestnut woods. &c., some species are found where willows are abundant; 

 all are conspicuous beautiful insects. 



For night collecting a preparation of rum and sugar, or beer and sugar 

 mixed to the consistency of sirup should be painted in patches and strips on 

 the trunks of trees, and other suitable places here and there but not laid on too 

 thick ; also you may soak pieces of dried apples and string them with a 

 darning needle on pieces of twine and festoon the fences, trunks of trees and 

 other places with them, this mess in either instance has a wonderful attraction 

 for Noctuae and many will by that means be obtained which otherwise never 

 would have the fortune to grace the naturalist's cabinet ; the moths will fly to, 

 and alight on this sweet and delusive mixture and by directing the light of 

 a lantern on them and using your poisoned jar you can make many captures. 

 It is not necessary to take every one out of the jar as fast as it falls in, get as 

 many as it will hold without spilling, and then when the novelty has ceased, 

 go into your quarters at some adjacent farm house and take them out at your 

 leisure, in comfort. Do not be disgusted if your first night's experiment 

 results in nothing but an army of ants or hundred-legged-bugs, but persevere, 

 for though the first or second or third night even may result in nothing, the 

 fourth may pay for all of them ; warm dark damp nights are the most favour- 

 able, windy ones ain't worth anything; but as in everything else experience 

 will perfect the knowledge of which I can give you only the rudiments. 



If arsenic be mixed with the rum and sugar, it will facilitate matters, but in 

 that case an old sheet should be spread on the ground beneath the tree-trunk, 

 fence or other object that is anointed with the potion, to receive those which 

 fall overcome by the poison. 



Many moths may be captured in the evening in the country when they fly 

 into the open windows attracted by your light, clap your jar over them as they 



