42 PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 



times during an evening. The greater number of moths will be found during the 

 first hour ; but some species are only taken late at night. Most of them may be 

 taken very easily, by holding a pill- box under them, into which they will fall, and 

 remain quiet till the next day ; but some are not so quiet. Some persons boil the 

 sugar and water, and think it an advantage ; but I have not yet tried it. Of the 

 efficacy of the addition of the rum I am sure, having more than once seen one col- 

 lector use it, and another, at the same time, sugar without it, when the former 

 would obtain double the number of Noctuae." Zool., vol. ii.,'p. 400. According to the 

 opinions of different entomologists the best places to sugar are single trees in. 

 hedgerows, open places in and at the borders of woods, or scattered trees in parks, 

 meadows, gardens, &c. Whilst on a visit to that eminent naturalist, Mr. H. 

 Doubleday, of Epping, he showed me, in a corner of a field bordering his garden, a 

 young tree, the stem of which was not more than five or six inches in diameter. 

 For many seasons in succession, he informed me, that he had there captured many 

 of our rarest insects, not to mention multitudes of the common species. The tree 

 must have been two miles from the forest, and the trunk was quite abraded with 

 constant sugaring. As I have already remarked, I have myself had no success in 

 sugaring ; but from the numerous records contained in the pages of the " Zoologist," 

 of Lepidoptera captured in this manner, there seems to be no doubt that it is one of 

 the most excellent methods that can be adopted. To enumerate all the species thus 

 taken would be an endless task, but I cannot refrain from mentioning some of the 

 more remarkable, as "Luperina abjecta," " Dipthera orion," "Nonagria arun- 

 dinicola," " Hadena atriplicis," and " H. satura," " Triphsena subsequa," " Glaea 

 erythrocephala" (still unique), the beautiful " Catocalae," "Fraxini," " Pro- 

 missa," u Sponsa," and many others. 



We come next to trees, shrubs, &c., attractive to moths. The following may be 

 mentioned : Jasmine, honeysuckle, valerian, bladder campion, reed, French and 



and u Noctuae." But these fade into insignificance when compared with the far- 

 famed sallow blossoms and ivy bloom. The spring insects, of course, are found on 

 the former ; the autumnal, on the latter. The following scarce species have been 

 taken on ivy : " Dasycampa rubiginea" (one of our rarest insects), u Agrotis 

 Saucia,'' u Xylinapetrificata" and u X. semibrunnea," "Calocampavetusta," "Euperia 

 fulvago," &c. ; and on sallows, amongst others, "Taeniocampa munda," u Popu- 

 leti," " Miniosa," " Opima," " Gracilis," &c. By shaking the sallows over a 

 white cloth, the moths may easily be captured, as they fall off, apparently quite 

 intoxicated. The ivy bloom should be examined with a lantern, and the insect, 

 when seen, will, if gently tapped, immediately fall into the box prepared to receive 

 him, and remain quite quiet. The time to commence searching in this manner 

 is, I think, about seven in the evening. 1 had nearly omitted to mention lime- 

 blossoms and syringa. These are certainly, as far as my experience goes, the 

 most attractive baits for moths. I have seen lime-trees, and large shrubs of sy- 

 ringa, when in blossom, actually alive with insects. I have taken upon them 

 specimens of the rare " Spaelotis pyrophila" and " S. ravida." The best way of attract- 

 ing insects is, I think, by lamplight. The " Zoologist" records many rare species thus 

 captured, and I may mention among those taken by myself in this way " Xylo- 

 phasia sublustris," u Cerigo cytherea," " Neuria saponariae, u Miana arcuosa," 

 44 Agrotis corticea and cinerea,'' " Dianthascia carpophaga," " Hadena adusta," 

 "Eupithecia sobrinaria," " Centaurearia," 4 'subfulvaria," "pusillaria," "pulchel- 

 laria," &c. Mr. Stainton describes (Zool., 2,030) a very elaborate apparatus he 

 employs for this purpose. My method is very simple, being merely to have two 

 candles close to the window, when, on favourable nights, if the window be open, 

 the moths will fly in and immediately ascend to the ceiling (when they may easily 

 be captured with a net) ; or, if the window be closed, will make known their 

 anxiety to be admitted ; some, by a mild and gentle, others, with a loud and in- 

 dignant tap. During the still silence which prevails in a retired country-place, 



* Those marked in italics have been found particularly attractive. 



