134 



HARDWICKE'S S C lENC E-GOSS IP. 



know what a delicious fragrance pervades the 

 surrounding atmosphere, and what a host of bees 

 and flies gather round the downy catkins to extract 

 the alluring nectar contained therein. In the day- 

 time many entomological treasures may be found on 

 the palm ; but it is of the moths that flock thither 

 by night I am about to speak. 



The method of taking moths from palm is 

 known to practical entomologists by the name of 

 " sallow-beating." The following are the requisites 

 for a sallow-beating expedition. A good stout 

 umbrella, which to a naturalist is useful for many 

 purposes, is indispensable ; a lantern is of course 

 necessary ; and for this work a flat- faced one is prefer- 

 able to a "bull's-eye," its light being not too power- 

 ful, and at the same time distributed over a larger 

 space. The cyanide-bottle, a pocket box, and pins 

 should also form part of the equipment, and as many 

 chip boxes as can be conveniently stowed away in 

 the pockets will be found to come in very useful. 

 Finally matches should not be forgotten, for in a 

 wood far from any habitation, and unable to procure 

 a light for his lantern, the entomologist will be 

 unable to go to work. Provided with these things, 

 he may sally forth to a place where the Sallow is 

 known to grow ; but if there should be an easterly 

 wind, or should it it be moonlight, it will be as well 

 to remain at home, for such nights bring but little 

 to the lepidopterist. However, supposing the nights 

 to be dark and mild, with a gentle breeze from the 

 south-west, he may set out nothing doubting, as on 

 such a night he may anticipate some good captures. 

 Having reached his destination, he should cut a 

 stick sufficiently long to reach the top of the bushes 

 he intends operating upon. With this addition to 

 his collecting apparatus he has all that is necessary 

 to commence work. 



As soon as it is slightly dusk, the moths begin to 

 approach their nocturnal feast. By standing near 

 to one of the sallow bushes, they may be seen as 

 they come buzzing by from all quarters, though at 

 first all around seems still, and the solitude only 

 broken at intervals by the jarring sound of the 

 Goat-sucker. Shortly after dusk the majority of 

 the moths will have settled, and the collecting may 

 be commenced. The modus operandi is very simple : 

 the umbrella being opened, is held beneath the bush 

 to receive a shower of moths brought from the 

 branches above by the administration of a few sharp 

 taps from the stick. Great will be his surprise who 

 tries sallow-beating for the first time, to see such a 

 multitude of moths in the umbrella. Many of the 

 autumnal species that have been hibernating will be 

 among the captives, the commonest of which is 

 perhaps Anchocelis pisticina, and a few other species 

 of the "Chestnuts." The "Quakers" are always at 

 the palm in great plenty'; Tceniocampa cruda is quite 

 a nuisance to sallow-beaters, on account of its 

 abundance ; but many rarities can be thus secured. 



That prize Dasycampa ruhiginea is often found in 

 the umbrella, with many others by no means common ; 

 such as Trachea piniperda, Tceniocampa leucographa, 

 and ininiosa. On a fair night the boxes can soon be 

 filled with fine specimens of good moths. It would 

 be impossible to take all beaten off the palm ; there- 

 fore those that are most desired should be selected, 

 and the others allowed their liberty. The chosen 

 victims may be cyauided and pinned on the spot, 

 or they can be pdl-boxed, each individual in a 

 separate one : if two be inclosed together, the one 

 is very likely to damage the other. It is advisable 

 to kill at once those of a lively nature, and to carry 

 their quieter brethren home alive. 



If the largest sallows are to be worked, the ground 

 beneath should be spread with sheets or other white 

 cloths ; and a long light pole is required for the 

 purpose of beating the upper branches ; but as this 

 involves much labour, two or three entomologists 

 should unite in carrying it out. In couclusion, it is 

 to be recommended that only the male or yellow 

 catkins be beaten, as, although the green, or female 

 ones, attract a few motiis, they do not yield so many 

 as the male. 



These few hints may be useful to some young 

 entomologists; but if tiicy set out and return 

 disappointed they should not be discouraged. 

 They will do well to bear in mind that few moths 

 venture forth from their hiding-places if the night 

 be inauspicious ; but when it is favourable they 

 will crowd to the palm in almost incredible 

 numbers, and many species may be met with new to 

 the collector. Henky A. Auld. 



A FEW OBSERVATIONS ON THE SMOOTH 

 NEWT.— No. 3. 



{Lissotriton punctatus.) 



I HAVE read with much pleasure Mr. Ashbury's 

 " Supplementary Observations on the Smooth 

 Newt," corroborative as they are of the fact of the 

 Newt, when in the aquarium, divesting itself of its 

 old skin. Mr. Bell, in his "British Reptiles," 

 says : " The Newts shed their skin in the same way 

 as other aquatic amphibia ; it comes off in shreds, 

 and is washed away as it becomes loose." When 

 speaking of the species under notice, the same 

 writer says : " The growth of the young animals 

 during the summer and autumn is very rapid, so 

 that they attain nearly their adult size the first 

 year." May not the fact of the Smooth Newt 

 divesting itself of the .old cuticle be principally 

 attributable to the higher temperature in which it 

 is kept in confinement ; and, possibly, in part to 

 the food given it ? Both Mr. Ashbury's and my 

 own Newt were fed chiefly on meat. Higher 

 temperature with these reptiles means excess of 

 life. With increased vitality there will probably 



