147 



CORRESPONDENCE. 



To the Editor of the Naturalist. 



Sir, — The following letter, received from Mr. Selby, in answer to a request 

 for further particulars on the interesting fact which is the subject of it, which I 

 first saw briefly mentioned in the Naturalist' sLibrary, will, I am sure, be inter- 

 esting and valuable to many entomologists. I hope I do not do wrong in sending 

 it with this view for insertion in your pages, which I am induced to venture on 

 from the consideration that the author of the letter would lose no opportunity of 

 furthering the interests of Natural Science, or of any of its votaries. 



I am, Sir, your obedient Servant, 

 F. 0. M. 



Letter from Pridea.ux John Selby, Esq., F.R.S.E., M.W.S., &c. &c. 



Twizell House, April 17, 1837. 



Sir, — The success I have met with in the capture of Moths by means of the 

 beehive anointed exteriorly with honey, enables me to recommend it as by far 

 the most effectual mode of taking the Noctuidce, and of the Geometridce, and 

 other smaller species ; in short, it is a certain trap for all the nocturnal Lepidop- 

 tera, except those whose cibariam or jaws are not fully developed. I recommend 

 the common hive, as being light, and easily moved from place to place, and also as 

 imbibing the honey with facility ; it moreover retains the odour for a long time, 

 and can be placed upon a forked stick at the most % convenient height for taking 

 the insects with the clippers. I set it immediately after sunset, and visit it 

 every half hour till ten or eleven o'clock, during autumn and summer. In win- 

 ter few of the insects fly after eight or nine o'clock. The Moths are generally 

 so engaged in sucking the honey, as to allow themselves to be easily taken if 

 quietly approached. A candle or lamp is used, but not left standing with the 

 hive. 



Heretofore I have not watched it during morning twilight, but intend to do so 

 this season, as many species fly at that time which do not make their appearance 

 in the evening. Last year I took a great many during the few fine evenings we 

 had, and among them many rare species, which I had no expectation of meeting 

 with in this district. On a favourable night in July I have seen the whole 

 exterior of the hive covered with Moths, and have taken eighteen and twenty 

 different species upon it at a time. Anointing the trunks of trees would no doubt 

 have the same effect, but it would require a much greater consumption of honey, 

 as Wasps, Bees, and other insects, would devour every particle during the day. 

 No. 9, Vol. II. x 



