80 TBE REPORT OF THE No. 1» 



COLLECTING AT LIGHT IN MANITOBA. 



By a. J. Dennis, Beulah, Man. 



!??J^ The opening of frhe season of 1902 was not very ^ood with regard to oollecting, although I took 

 a few specimens of moths from sallow bloom, such as Orthosia lutosa, Agrotis ypsilon, TiPniocampa 

 rufula, and a few others that I do not yet know the names of ; nor have the early spring 

 butterflies been at all common for the past two seasons. In some years I have seen Erebia 

 discoidalls-And epipsodea, Chionobas alberta and varuna, Lyacna rustica, lygdamas and S(cpiulus, 

 very thick upon the prairie, but for some reason during the last two seasons they have almost 

 failed me. 



There was, however, one night last summer which I wish most particularly to mention as 

 it may interest some of my fellow collectors. It was the greatest evening for collecting I ever 

 had and a time that will never be forgotten. During the spring and early summer, I had been 

 living on what is called "the Hooper plains,'' on light land, and such land is not good for 

 collecting, not having enough vegetation. To explain what I mean by light land is that open 

 prairie can be seen for miles around, the grass very thin and never green for more than six 

 weeks or two months, with a few plants, but not enough to support a large amount of insect 

 life. If is, however, just the place for (JJiionibas alberta, C. varuna and Lycana rustica. But 

 to revert to the ilth of June, for that is the date I wish to mention. 



I left the plains in the afternoon to go to the heavy land, or what is called " the bluffs." 

 Before starting, I packed up my collecting outfit, consisting of a large sheet, a good strong 

 stable lantern . killing bottles and my net. Through f orgetf ulness I left my chloroform behind 



a mistake which I afterwards regretted, as it caused me to lose a large number of specimens 



which I should otherwise have taken. The day had been somewhat close, heavy black clouds 

 passed overhead, and it looked very much like an impending storm. Towards evening, rain 

 began to fall and lightning could be seen in the distance. I had a few things to do when I 

 reached my destination, and before they were finished numbers of insects could be seen on the 

 wing, especially fire-iiies, which were very thick, and mosquitoes, which were thicker, — to use 

 an old saying, " as thick as hairs on a cat"! After a time, I noticed the moths on the move,, 

 and that was a warning, which made me look round for a quiet corner where I could hang my 

 sheet. Within a few feet from the stable, I found two aspens about the same distance apart 

 as th<5 width of my sheet. That is the place for me, I thought, and I at once proceeded to 

 clear with my axe the lower lihibs and any other scrub which might impede my movements. 

 After getting the sheet in position, I had to arrange a pole to hang my lantern on ; this being 

 finished, I was ready for action. It was then about half-past eight o'clock. To make myself 

 comfortable, 1 brought out a chair and put on a macintosh as it was drizzling with rain ; then 

 sitting down, I was ready to capture anything that came near. • 



Very soon a little white Geometer began to arrive, then others, and soon after nine- 

 o'clock the Noctuids made their appearance. T caught a few, such as Eaderui modica, 

 H. arcticn, Mamedra rosea, imbrifera, trifolU, meditata and purpurissata, Xylina sigrwsa, 

 several species of Chorkagrotis which all seemed to be different, Peridroma astricta, etc. I 

 also took specimens of Spilosoma virginica, Ichthyura van, strigosa and albosigma, Nadata 

 gibbosa, Lophopteryx elegans— one a beauty, Pheosia rimosa, Cernra cinereoides, and many others 

 whose names I hope to give at some future time. 



Between half-past nine and ten, the Hawk-moths began to show up. First a single one, 

 then a pair, and very soon a dozen were bobbing about. Some flew straight to the sheet and 



