THE OAK EGGAR 209 



some around it, in an unbroken circle. Some contained 

 naphthaline ; others the essential oil of spike-lavender ; 

 others petroleum, and others a solution of alkaline 

 sulphur giving off a stench of rotten eggs. Short of 

 asphyxiating the prisoner I could do no more. These 

 arrangements were made m the morning, so that the 

 room should be saturated when the congregation of 

 lovers should arrive. 



In the afternoon the laboratory was filled with the 

 most abominable stench, in which the penetrating aroma 

 of spike-lavender and the stink of sulphuretted hydro- 

 gen were predominant. I must add that tobacco was 

 habitually smoked in this room, and in abundance. 

 The concerted odours of a gas-works, a smoking-room, 

 a perfumery, a petroleum well, and a chemical factory 

 — would they succeed in confusing the male moths ? 



By no means. About three o'clock the moths arrived 

 in as great numbers as usual. They went straight to 

 the cage, which I had covered with a thick cloth in 

 order to add to their difficulties. Seeing nothing when 

 once they had entered, and immersed in an extra- 

 ordinary atmosphere in which any subtle fragrance 

 should have been annihilated, they nevertheless made 

 straight for the prisoner, and attempted to reach her 

 by burrowing under the linen cloth. My artifice had 

 no result. 



After this set-back, so obvious in its consequences, 

 which only repeated the lesson of the experiments 

 made with naphthaline when my subject was the 

 Great Peacock, I ought logically to have abandoned 

 the theory that the moths are guided to their wed- 

 ding festivities by means of strongly scented effluvia, 



15 



