88 f^P"^' 



were noticed. On one sinsjle post I counted 39 specimens of the 

 handsome hawk moth Vseudosphinx discistriga,\v\\\\e Daplinis hypofJwus 

 and Theretra nessus almost rivalled the Pseudospltinx in numbers. 

 But b}'' far the most prominent species were the Noctuids, Oxyodes 

 scrohiculata and Maceda mansueta. These two species were present in 

 tens of thousands. The moths rested most thickly high up on the 

 post close to the lamp. A pair of Zeiss's field-glasses proved most 

 useful for scrutinizing this part of the post. It was a wonderful 

 sight to see all these handsome moths in such close proximity to each 

 other, the smaller species filling up the interstices between the wings 

 of the larger, or even superimposed upon them. 



We found that a butterfly net was both inefficient and unnecessary. 

 A better instrument was what we nickiumied the " tickler." It con- 

 sisted of a long pole to the top of which was spliced a thin pliant 

 twig, the whole resembling a fishing-rod. By careful manipulation 

 the moths could be induced to transfer their hold to the twig and 

 could then be gently lowered to the ground, or, if dislodged, they 

 merely fluttered down and allowed themselves to be handled and 

 examined without attempting to escape. The three large killing 

 bottles with which I had provided myself were soon overcrowded, and 

 resource was had to chloroform, a few drops of which, placed on the 

 under surface of the largest moths, gave them their quietus, when 

 they were folded in soft paper and put away in boxes with more of 

 the chloroform to keep them asleep. Only strictly limited series were 

 taken, and any individuals that showed interesting variations. Thou- 

 sands of magnificent specimens (it was remarkable that nearly all the 

 insects were in perfect condition) were left, though it is feared that 

 few lived to repeat their frolic on the following night, and certainly 

 none would return to their breeding grounds. Most of the lamps 

 are set in the direct track of the sentries, and the heavy foot of the 

 British soldier extinguished many a glorious specimen that would have 

 gladdened the heart of an English entomologist. The path was 

 decorated with a mosaic of variegated wings and bodies crushed into 

 the mud. 



I was surprised to find that on the occasion of my visit neither 

 bats* nor goatsuckers were availing themselves of the feast that was 

 ready for the taking. Only an occasional toad was deliberately load- 

 ing itself up with the smaller moths that fluttered to the ground. 



* Since writing the above, I hear that, on a subsequent occasion, bats were present in 

 considerable numbers. 



