THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 105 



were quickly bottled, and putting three cyanide jars in my pockets I went 

 on a journey up the slippery hill. Moths were plentiful on every baited 

 post and tree. Orthosia bicolorago predominated everywhere. On warm, 

 wind-still evenings the trees must be approached cautiously, as these com- 

 mon loafers will quickly take wing and disturb what more desirable species 

 may be there. On the evening in question, however, every moth held on 

 for dear life, with its wings fluttering in the breeze. The desirable species 

 were readily selected, but the Scopelosoma and Xylina have the very 

 vexing habit of dropping to the ground at the slightest disturbance. It is 

 advisable, therefore, to clear away all rubbish and dry grass from around 

 the posts and trees. The Xylina, with their wings closely folded around 

 the abdomen and their colours blending to perfection with the dry grass 

 . in most of the species, are very difficult to find by the flickering light of a 

 lantern. Usually when I reached the highest part of my route I could 

 see Mr. Marloff's light circling about in his orcliard on the next hill, but 

 on this memorable evening I did not succeed in getting to the summit. 

 The wind in the open field was so high that my light was extinguished, 

 and I had to retire to the lower section of the hill. Five trips over part 

 of the route were made, and 72 Scopelosoma, representing six species, were 

 taken up to 11 p. m. The appearance of these kinds in such numbers 

 was a novelty to me and I paid little attention to the common forms, 

 Anticarsia gemmatilis was taken for the first time in my experience. 



On the following two days, October 23rd and 24th, the weather was 

 cold, with frosts at night. Eleven Xylina were collected about dusk on 

 these days. The weather moderated considerably on the 25th, and after a 

 cloudy day, a cool, drizzling rain set in about dusk. With an easy breeze stir- 

 ring, matters looked very favourable for a good catch. The entire collecting 

 route was gone over five times that evening and 91 Scopelosoma, 3 Glcea 

 sericea, several interesting kinds of Xylina and some of the common forms 

 of the latter were taken. At nearly midnight I left off with 118 specimens 

 safely stored away to be mounted. Frosty nights prevailed after this, but 

 with the exception of several evenings a few moths were always found 

 about dusk until November 7th. A cold, drizzling rain fell that evening 

 and 27 specimens were collected. These represented Scopelosoma and 

 Xylina. On the following day it was cool and the atmosphere very heavy 

 and damp. The captures that evening were 28 specimens. Up to No- 

 vember 1 8th but little collecting was done, owing to intervening cold 

 weather. The following three days were warm and 180 moths were taken, 



March, iijo.^. 



