1901.] 87 



MOTH CATCHING BY ELECTRIC LIQHT AT THE BOER CAMP, 

 DIYATALAWA, CEYLON. 



BY E. ERNEST GREEN, F.E S., Governmrnt Emtosiolooiist. 



At the invitation of one of the officers of the regiment guarding 

 the Boer prisoners at Diyatalavva, I visited the camp to see the 

 swarms of moths attracted each night by the powerful electric lamps 

 erected round the Boer enclosure. I spent two nights at this work 

 (December 15th and 16th), and had what was to me a most unique 

 experience. 



The Boer camp is situated in a small hollow in the midst of the 

 undulating patna land at Diyatalawa, at an elevation of about 4000 

 feet. The electric lamps, of which there are 38, at an average dis- 

 tance of 85 yards from each other, are visible from the surrounding 

 hills within a radius of about three miles, and where there are no hills 

 to interrupt the view, the glare of the lights must be noticeable from 

 a much greater distance. I am told that at Hakgala, some ten miles 

 distant, the individual lights can be detected on a clear night. The 

 country for miles around is completely open, consisting of the wiry 

 patna grass and the usual small patna plants. With the exception of 

 a few small patches of scrub in an occasional hollow, there is no 

 wooded land that could provide breeding ground for the myriads of 

 moths that are nightly attracted. The nearest forest is fully two 

 miles distant. Tet it is remarkable that the greater number of moths 

 seen and captured are such as feed, in the larval stage, on plants and 

 trees not present on the patnas. 



The lamps, I am informed, are of the " Brockie Pell " pattern, 

 each lamp of a nominal 2000 candle power. The standards, made of 

 sawn timber (7 in. by 7 in.), about 25 feet high, form an admirable 

 resting place for the dazzled moths. 



The lamps ai^e lighted at dusk which, at this season, is soon after 

 6 p.m , but it is some little time before the insect crowd assembles. 

 The fun was in full swing when we started on our rounds at 9 o'clock. 

 From a little distance every lamp was seen to be surrounded by a 

 whirling swarm of brilliantly illuminated objects. As we approached 

 the grass was dotted with dazzled moths, and for several yards round 

 the foot of the post the ground was simply carpeted with them. It 

 became impossible to walk without treading upon them. The post 

 itself was encrusted with moths of all sizes, from the large Saturniids 

 and Sphingids to the smallest Noetuids and Pyrales. Very few Tineids 



