20 HUNTING AMONG THE 



seldom settle ; the Sphigida; and many of the Geometrce come 

 under this heading. 



For attracting in numbers, there is no method more productive 

 than what is called " sugaring," which comprises the painting of 

 trees, flowers, leaves, palings, etc., with a concoction of the coarse 

 brown sugar called Foots, treacle, and rum, and if a district is to 

 be thoroughly worked this method must be systematically perse- 

 vered with ; in fact, the moths should never go without their 

 supper, even on those nights when it is impossible to spare the 

 time to examine the guests which have seated themselves at the 

 board. This is one of the first laws of attraction in Lepidoptera 

 science, which I discovered for myself in my earliest days of col- 

 lecting. It is also very important to spread the repast always on 

 the same spot. If this method is carried out systematically, the 

 result is simply wonderful. On the majority of the nights I have 

 examined over five hundred specimens, and on two or three nights 

 when it was drizzling and otherwise propitious, there must have 

 been over a thousand of all kinds partaking of the supper spread 

 for them from nine to eleven. There are, of course, a great many 

 of one species ; at times, I have counted from twenty to thirty of 

 X. polyodon, two or three deep, fighting over a small band of the 

 nectar; but after removing them with the hand, I have often 

 found a specimen or two of the beautiful little ,Noctua plccta, 

 Cosmia affinis, C. diffiiiis, or, more rarely, Agrotis puta, quietly 

 taking their supper, apparently quite unconscious of the surging 

 mass of fighting giants around and above them, the relative sizes 

 being about similar to thirty hippopotami fighting and struggling 

 over a human being ; in fact, X. polyodon, T. pro?mba, and the like, 

 become a regular nuisance, and many a good capture has been 

 nipped in the bud by these clumsy fellows. 



Another method of capture is by light. This is, perhaps, the 

 most exciting means by which Lepidoptera may be attracted. 

 It, however, necessitates very late hours ; between eleven p.m. and 

 half-past one in the morning, being, according to my experience, 

 the best hours for prosecuting this style of hunting. All that is 

 required is a room with as little furniture in it as possible, and a 

 bright light ; a lamp or gas jet can be used, provided the latter 

 has a close-fitting globe ; — The light is placed in an open window, 



