1870.] RITCHIE — INSECTS BY ARTIFICIAL LIGHT. 65 



end. This is more particularly the case with regard to moths, 

 as may be seen from the following circumstance, which happened 

 £bur years ago: — Sitting, with the window open, and a lamp 

 burnine: on the table, a lars-e moth flew into the room. I shut 

 the window and captured it. It was a female of lelea poIyphemus. 

 The window was scarcely closed when something flew against it ; 

 knowing it to be another moth, the sash was again opened ; in a 

 very few seconds in the moth came, and flew up and down the 

 ceiling, when the inevitable net soon enclosed it. This moth was 

 the male of the above species, and its visit was, no doubt, a clear 

 case of love-makino;. I mention another circumstance with resrard 

 to the females of the larger moths in particular, which I have 

 observed frequently. A female never dies without depositing her 

 eggs in some way or other. I have pinned moths time and again 

 on the trunk of a tree, and in every instance (if not at the time 

 of piercing the creature on the tree) always in the box before she 

 died, when they are ejected on the introduction of the pin ; they 

 are unformed and soft. The creature, apparently aware of some 

 change coming over her, does her best for the continuation of her 

 kind up to the latest moment of her existence. Insects, especially 

 Lepidoptera, copulate on the wing, and sometimes at great heights. 

 We had an opportunity of witnessing this at Beloeil mountain on 

 the occasion of the field meeting of this Society last summer. 



Examples of PapllHo turnus were abundant, — flying higher 

 than the trees, — and higher than the old ruin on the top of the 

 mountain. 



Vanessa antiopa was also observed, evidently enjoying them- 

 selves, as they flew towards the sun, — away above trees and other 

 objects, — for diurnal Lepidoptera pair, and fulfil the end of their 

 being in the bright beams of the sun. May we not draw the 

 same conclusion with regard to the nocturnal species ? 



On moonlight nights where are the moths ? No doubt flying 

 at great heights, seeking each others company for the purpose of 

 perpetuating their kind ; and on moonless nights — as will be shewn 

 further on, — those creatures are attracted by artificial lights for the 

 same purpose. I would venture to offer the following suggestions : 

 I have always found that moonlight nights were bad nights for 

 mothing. On clear, moonlight nights these creatures find all they 

 require in the broad expanse of field and forest. The journeys 

 they take, and the enjoyment they have are uninterrupted on 

 such occasions ; but when a moonless, warm, moist, but not wet, 



YoL. Y. E Xo. 1. 



