1904] A Night's Collecting for Moths. 205 



specimens in a safe place, we fixed up a large acetylene lamp, 

 which we use specially for attracting- night-flying moths, and pro- 

 ceeded up the lake about half a mile from Mr. Young's cottage. 

 Having reached our destination, an unoccupied cottage on the 

 slope of the mountain, we placed the lamp on the southern edge 

 oi' the verandah, so that the rays would illuminate the front por- 

 tion of the house The reason this cottage was decided upon was 

 because it had been painted white, and with the light from the 

 lamp directly along the front of the verandah from which it was 

 reflected, much greater attraction was thus extended to insects 

 flying in the immediate vicinity. During good evenings we have 

 collected large numbers of specimens by this method. On the 

 night in question we netted some very acceptable things in the 

 couple of hours spent at this pleasant work. 



There is no doubt, ho-wever, that sugaring is the most pro- 

 ductive way to collect moths. If one wants large numbers of 

 specimens there is no reason why, in a good season, several 

 hundred specimens could not be taken during any favorable even- 

 ing. On the other hand, however, all night-flying moths will not 

 come to sugar, but many of these may be attracted by lights. 

 Around cities and towns, particularly in the outskirts, the electric 

 light furnishes a splendid hunting ground for many species which 

 one never meets with at sugar. Noctuid moths of many kinds 

 frequent flowers in early evening attracted by the rich nectar, and 

 while there is still natural light, specimens may be captured quite 

 easily. 



As to the specimens collected at sugar, Noctua normaniana, 

 Grt., and Trigoiiophorapericulosa, Gn., \v\t\\\\.s variety v-bncnneuni, 

 Grt., were extremely plentiful and in perfect condition. Luckily, I 

 had previously never met with either of these species at all com- 

 monly, so I took a good series of each. Some of the other very 

 common noctu'ids weve Iladenacinbi^ans, Walk., Feltia subgothicUy 

 Haw., and Noctua smithii, Snel. The latter species could have 

 been taken by the hundred. Every now and then one of the large 

 Catocala moths would be seen eagerly sipping up the sugar. All 

 the moths of this genus are beautiful creatures, the larger species 

 being particularly striking in appearance. As many as six diff'er- 

 ent kinds of these attractive insects were flying, viz., Catocala 



