i.Hiis. I 77 



and which would have the effect of reducing the succulence of the vegetntion on 

 which presumably the insects fed, and so of either diminishing their supplies of 

 food, or rendering it more difficult to obtain ? If this latter should be the case, 

 might not similar considerations throw light upon closelj allied forms of other 

 genera, such as Scolopostethus and Salda, which differ mainly in the matter of 

 ])ubescence ? — E. A. Butleu, 39, Ashley Road, Crouch Hill, N. : January, 1895. 



Method of sugaring meadows, moors, mountain sidex,^'c. — Proceed as follows : — 

 take a length of sea fishing line (twelve thread water cord will answer the purpose), 

 tie one end securely to a stake driven firmly into the ground ; about two feet off 

 this, in the direction you intend to carry the line, drive in a stick with forked top so 

 that about two feet of it are above ground (for portability, a bamboo with bent wire 

 fork is best), then pass the line over the fork, reel off thirty, forty, or more yards, 

 pass it over another forked stick similarly fixed, pull taut, and stake down the other 

 end of the cord about two feet further on, thus forming a miniature clothes line : 

 a few more forked sticks or bamboos should be placed at intervals, between the ends, 

 to act as props. Next have some pieces of cloth or rag cut, 3 by 7 inches is a good 

 size, and pack them one upon another into a suitable tin box. These cloths should 

 be saturated with sugaring compound and flavoured with essence of ginger grass or 

 other seductive perfume. When required for use they should be taken out and fixed 

 to the line at distances of about three yards apart ; this may be done by pinning, or 

 better still, by fastening the two corners of one of the short sides by means of 

 "dolls' clothes pegs," which are rapidly put on and taken off. 



The great time for working the above is at those seasons when the meadow- 

 grass is in full bloom ; but as farmers strongly object to trespassing when the grass 

 is ready for the scythe, it is advisable to find a public footpath, alongside which our 

 sweets may be spread without injury to the crop : due regard should be paid to the 

 direction of the wind, and if rain have fallen during the day or there has been a 

 heavy dew, our chances of success will be better, as the bloom will be less attractive. 

 This plan of sugaring may be used for many purposes besides the above ; for 

 operating on downs and mountain sides it should prove invaluable, and ought to 

 attract such s])ecies as Noctua sobrina, Pachnobia alpina, Pachetra leucophcea, &c. 

 "With sandhills, moors and fens, too, it would no doubt meet with success ; and the 

 judicious wafting of our alluring odours might afford the means of sampling tho 

 contents of woods and grounds which we are forbidden to enter. Its great advantaije 

 over other methods, in use in barren or difficult localities, consists in the ease with 

 which the sugared patches can be found and examined, even in the dark. 



I am aware that many collectors have no faith in sugared rags, and, indeed, it 

 has been pretty generally observed that, unless moths are very plentiful and raven- 

 ous, they do not care to soil their tarsi with the sticky mixture, but content themselves 

 by sijiping from the edge of the bait. To these I would suggest that pieces of clean 

 brown paper should be substituted for rags, a streak of sugar being applied to thera 

 offer they have been attached to the line ; after use they can be left behind as 

 valueless, or, if it is purposed to return to the spot, packed away with the sugared 

 sides facing one another, under a stone or clod in readiness for the next visit. The 



