INTRODUCTION. U 



as possible without scaring it, and then to strike suddenly. 

 Even this Moth, however, will sometimes settle on a wall, a 

 stump on a bank under a hedge, or in some other situation 

 where its colour protects it ; but it is rare to meet with it, 

 except on the wing. 



Many Moths fly in the daytime in meadows, &c, like 

 Butterflies, or may be dislodged from their resting-places by 

 beating hedges and bushes on the side opposite to the wind. 

 On dull days, or at dusk, Butterflies may occasionally be 

 started in a similar manner, or they may be found asleep on 

 grass-stems, &c. Butterflies will settle on leaves as well as 

 on flowers, or on the ground, or on tree-trunks. In the last 

 case they are very difficult to catch, as it is not easy to strike 

 at them in such a manner that they cannot readily elude the 

 net. Many Butterflies will settle in damp places to imbibe the 

 moisture, or on fruit, and others will settle on dung or carrion. 



A great many of the night-flying Moths, even including the 

 largest species, may be found sitting on tree-trunks in the early 

 part of the day ; later on, they generally seek a more retired 

 resting-place. Others may be captured by painting tree-trunks, 

 &c, with a sweet mixture, and visiting the trees with a lantern 

 after dark. This mode of collecting is called " sugaring," and 

 the substance commonly used is a mixture of coarse brown 

 sugar boiled in beer to a sufficient consistency to adhere to the 

 trees, and flavoured with a few drops of rum. Apple-flavouring 

 has also been found very attractive. 



Butterflies, and slender-bodied Moths, may be killed by a 

 pinch under the thorax ; but unless very carefully done, this is 

 liable to injure the specimens, especially if they are required to 

 show the under surface and legs ; and many collectors use a 

 bottle partly filled with chopped laurel-leaves, or charged with 

 cyanide of potassium, or carry a small bottle of chloroform 

 with them. Full particulars on all these points may be found 

 in Knaggs' " Lepidopterist's Guide," a useful little manual 



L) 2 



