1901. 1 89 



Several of these toads had fallen victims to the regimental boot and 

 been added to the pattern impressed on the path. Others had iilled 

 themselves to repletion and when touched turned over on their backs 

 and gazed at the brilliant light in a condition of semi-hypnotism. 



Some thirty lamps or more completed the circuit. Each one of 

 these was visited in turn. The sentry-boxes also, built of white 

 pinewood, amply repaid careful inspection. By the time the round 

 had been accomplished it was past midnight. I was warned, however, 

 that an early morning visit was advisable, before the crows, sparrows 

 and swallows had commenced their work of destruction. So we 

 started again at daybreak, and found the moths almost as we had left 

 them, exce])t that they were all at rest, and selection could be made 

 with greater ense and deliberation. But now we were not the only 

 collectors. An army of birds (sparrows and swallows, assisted by an 

 occasional crow) was busily at work. The sparrows fluttered against 

 the ])osts, knocking off a cluster of moths, and pounced on such as 

 fell to the ground ; while the swallows exterminated those who tried 

 to escape by flight. We amused ourselves by starting an occasional 

 flight of moths and observing how the swallows unerringly avoided 

 the several si)ecies that were protected by an offensive smell, such as 

 Tlypsa compJnna, H. producfa and Pelochjfa astrea. This last insect, 

 when handled, emitted a quantity of evil-smelling froth from each side 

 of the prothorax. 



The same performance was repeated on the second night when, 

 if possible, an even larger assemblage of moths was present. It is 

 difiScult to understand whence such myriads of insects could be drawn 

 each night, never to return to lay their eggs. A long continuance of 

 these conditions must inevitably lead to the extinction of many species 

 from that district. The attraction has now been in force since the 

 middle of August last. The crowd is denser on some nights than on 

 others. The moths do not assemble to any extent when a cold wind 

 is blowing, and strong moonlight is a deterrent. Warm damp nights, 

 after rain, produce the heaviest crops. 



It was particularly noticeable that very few purely local species 

 were represented. In fact, Sangatissa suhcurvifera was almost the 

 only moth that does not occur in the Kandy district (at half the 

 elevation of Diyatalawa). 



The following more striking species were noticed : — 



Sattjuniid.s; : Actias Selene, Hiibn. Bombycid.E : Ounda sikkima, Moore. 

 EUPTEKOTID.E : E. fancicUii, Moore ; Saiiffatissa suhcurvifera, Wlk. SnilNGiD^ : 



