CAPTURE OF NOCTURNAL LEP1DOPTERA. 211 



from six to nine feet long, and a small round net, made of white 

 gauze or muslin, screwed or fixed on at the end, of about five 

 to six inches diameter, and the same in depth. I then direct 

 the rays of light upon the insect. If it is within reach I use 

 the forceps, and take it very deliberately ; if out of reach, but 

 within the length of the rod, they are easily jarred into the 

 small bag at the end of your rod, lowered down, and trans- 

 ferred into the forceps. In this way they are captured with 

 certainty, and the most surprising facility, principally in con- 

 sequence of that singular instinctive faculty which many 

 insects possess, in a greater or less degree, of feigning 

 death when alarmed. For example, Orthosia Pistacina, and 

 O. litura, contract their legs and wings, and fall into the bag- 

 net, or forceps, immediately when touched, tumbling and 

 rolling about without evincing the least signs of life ; and so 

 do many others. On the contrary, O. macilenta and O.jlavi- 

 linea, and others, under the same circumstances, exhibit very 

 little, if any, of that predisposition of feigning death. They 

 will try to creep away when disturbed, having no inclination 

 to use their wings, but are easily jarred off the berries or 

 leaves into the bag-net, or induced to creep upon some part of 

 it, until they are finally secured with the forceps. If they 

 happen to miss the net in the act of falling, they invariably 

 drop lightly to the ground, and may be taken from the grass 

 with the forceps. The above observations only apply to the 

 Noctuidcc, which carry their wings horizontally; the Geome- 

 tridce, which carry their wings erect, invariably fly away when 

 touched or disturbed. It requires a little patience and address, 

 when beyond the reach of the forceps, to secure any of this 

 family ; however, they affect death in some degree, and will fall 

 a short distance as if shot, when the rays of light are directed 

 upon them, and the small bag- net held just under them. It is 

 necessary to wait patiently a few seconds, and gently to touch 

 the twig with the ring of your net, until they feel inclined to 

 exercise that shamming propensity ; it must then be lowered 

 with care, otherwise, if alarmed or disturbed, the insect will 

 fly out of the bag before you can place over the top the 

 flat side of your forceps. Take the bag-net to some con- 

 venient place, and the insect will be seen adhering to the 

 bottom or sides with its wings erect. Then place the mouth 

 of the forceps in a vertical position over the circle of the bag- 



