66 THE CANADIAN NATURALIST. [March 



evening comes, they are aroused by artificial lights, which to them, 



I believe, is their best substitute for moonlight. The conclusions 



I arrive at are, that nearly all insects which come out at night,« 



come either for the purpose of feeding, or of continuing their 



species. They cannot, on account of the structure of their eyes 



serve one of the purposes for which they were made, during the 



bright sunshine. The pale, mellow beams of the moon is their 



Pharos, and suits them best. You may sit at your open window, 



with your lamp or lamps, on a bright, moonlight night, and the 



number of typical night flyers, or insects of any kind, will be few 



indeed ; experience is the best teacher, and so it has been in the 



present instance. But on a moonless night, with your lamp, you 



may make many captures. Insects on dark nights then seem to 



be attracted by lights, either in your rooms or by lanterns in the 



woods, because such light come nearest to the light they love and 



enjoy, namely, that of that 



" Orbed maiden, with white fire laden, 

 ■Whom mortals call the moon." 



NOTES ON VEGETABLE PRODUCTIONS.* 



By Geo. E. Bulger, F.L S., F.R.G.S., C.M.Z.S., &g. 



Seeds of the Wild Liquorice (Ahrus precatorius Linn.) — 

 These seeds are the produce of a twining plant, which seems to have 

 been brought originally from the West Indies, though it is now 

 common enough in India and other eastern countries. It belongs 

 to the papilionaceous division of the natural order Leguminosce. 

 The English call it wild-liquorice, and the French liane ct 

 reglisse. There are several varieties, and three difi'erently- 

 coloured kinds of seeds are well known — black, white and scarlet. 

 The last mentioned have a jet-black spot at one end, and, as they 

 are very hard, glossy and brilhant, they are a good deal in request 

 as beads for necklaces and other ornaments amongst the Hin_ 

 doos. They are called retti-weights in India, and are used by 

 jewellers and druggists, each seed being popularly supposed to 

 be equivalent to one grain ; but Dr. Mason says he has weighed 



* Part of a small collection recently presented to the Museum of the 

 Natural History Society of Montreal. 



