102 [October 



commotion when unable to find the way out again. Others were takei 

 at flowers in the gardens, and altogether a very respectable numbe 

 have been secured in the neighbourhood. 



Nothing that I have ever seen in the evolutions of Apatnra Iri 

 or Limenitis Sihylla approaches in gi'andeur and power of flight t( 

 the motions of these noble moths. Their movements resemble ii 

 ease and grace those of a swallow, but far exceed it swiftness. Then 

 is something wonderfully lovely in their manner of glancing abou 

 from flower to flower, or skimming round the beds. By moving gently 

 with little perceptible movement towards them, it is easy to watcl 

 them for ten minutes at a time, sometimes within a few inches 

 examining flower after flower, then circling round or gliding to anothei 

 part of the bed, hovering about two inches from each flower, anc 

 probing its deep nectary, with a proboscis from three to four inches 

 long. The petunias and verbenas get a sliare of attention, as alsc 

 occasionally the neighbouring geraniums, and even the long tubulai 

 flowers of a large species of datura are not entirely overlooked, bul 

 not one of these plants approaches in attractiveness to the Nicotiana 

 to which the moths always i-eturn, and about which they spend most 

 of their time. 



The slightest sudden movement alarms them, and causes ar 

 instantaneous retreat, but as long as we move gradually and smoothly 

 they seem to disregard us, and a lighted lantern is actually an object 

 of curiosity. It is most curious to see one of these moths on the 

 approach of the light leave the flowers and hover in front of it, then 

 rise higher, pause in front of one's face with uplifted wings, as 

 though looking straight into one's eyes (an attitude which has cer 

 tainly been seen by some of our earlier artists, for their figures 

 exactly represent it), then pass with a loud hum close to one's ear. 

 and return, as though satisfied, to the flowers. But the most curious 

 performance that we have seen happened in two cases, when one of 

 the boys, wearing a scarlet-striped jacket, was watching one of thest 

 moths. In each case the moth actually flew close to him, evidently 

 actuated by the most lively curiosity, and appeared to touch the 

 scarlet stripes. 



8. convolvuU does not hold itself bound by the crepuscular 

 habits of its family. It is a creature of intelligence as well as of 

 curiosity, and knows that the twilight is too short for all the floral 

 investigation which its large appetite demands. We have taken them 

 at all hours, from dusk (7.30 p.m.) to midnight— later, I confess that 

 we have not attempted much ; and the state of the weather, if not 



