34 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 



about loo yards of the house, the nearest perhaps not more than 50 yards 

 from the front door. What effect these lights had on my collecting is en- 

 tirely conjectural ; sometimes I have been inclined to think that it was 

 owing to the quantity of things drawn to the neighbourhood by them that 

 I did so well ; at others, that owing to their superior brilliancy or attrac- 

 tiveness I got but a small share of the things that were flying, in which 

 case the quantity of insects around these electric lights some nights must 

 have been enormous. I must confess that sometimes a wish entered my 

 mind that these lights would go out, so that my small one might have no 

 opposition. 



Enough of the surroundings, now for the experiences or results. 

 My first venture was made on the evening of the 27th of June, and 

 with the exception of a few nights when the moon shone too brightly, I 

 tried light nearly every evening, for a longer or shorter time, according to 

 " the profits," until I went to Brandon, Man., on the 5th of August. On 

 my return at the end of that month I resumed collecting in this way until 

 well on in September, but the weather was very unfavourable and I took 

 little, as compared with the July catches ; the nights were either too light 

 outside or too windy, and during the whole month no rain fell, so that the 

 conditions can hardly be said to have been suitable, not affording a fair 

 test. Though I am well satisfied with the gifts showered upon me, it is 

 still a matter of regret that I did not commence a month earlier in the 

 season and that I lost nearly the whole of August as well, for I have no 

 doubt that I missed many a good thing not yet represented in my 

 collection. 



It was owing to my inability to get out for any day or evening 

 collecting during June (due to pressure of business and domestic disar- 

 rangements) that I bethought me of collecting "at light"; had it been 

 otherwise, I dare say my light collecting would never have seen a begin- 

 ning, nor a continuation, had not I met with such unexpected, surprising 

 and encouraging success at the outset. 



The very first captures at light on June 27th were Leucania albilinea, 

 and Plusia Putnami and striatella ; these were followed after an interval 

 by Plusia insolita and ampla ; the Sphingidse were represented by Smer- 

 inthus geminatus and Paonias excsecatus ; the Bombycidae, by Cerura 

 occidentalis, Tortricidia testacea, several species of Schizura, Edema al- 

 bifrons, Nadata gibbosa, Notodonta elegans, Pheosia dimidiata, Crocata 

 immaculata by the dozen, etc.; the Noctuidie, besides those already men- 



