XXX European Butterflies axd JITotiis. 



Localities. — Different species of butterflies and moths are found in duicrenr locanUes. 

 Generally speaking, any particular insect is likely to be met with in the neighbourhood of the 

 food-plant of the larva. Butterflies and day-flying moths frequent heaths, meadows, gardens, and 

 especially open places in woods. Many settle on walls, and are more easily captured than those 

 which settle on the trunks of trees. But many moths may be found asleep on the trunks of trees, 

 walls, palings, &c., in the daytime, especially in the morning, and may easily be swept off into 

 the net, or enclosed in a pill-box, or even transfixed with a pin as they sit. Our remarks above as 

 to the difficulty of catching insects resting on tree-trunks apply to strongly-flying insects which 

 choose them as a temporary resting-place, and not to those which sleep in such situations. Many 

 butterflies when disturbed will return to the resting-place from which they have been driven, so 

 that it does not always follow that we have lost an insect because it has escaped us once. This 

 habit is most noticeable in the Nyniphalidcs. Many insects, chiefly Gcomctru; and small species, may 

 be disturbed in the daytime by beating a hedge, taking care to keep to the windward. Some use 

 a stick in one hand and the net in the other ; but it answers just as well to use a ring-net attached 

 to a longer and stronger pole than usual, which may be held in the middle, and used to beat the 

 hedge with the butt end, while it may be at once turned to capture anything which may fly out. 



Mothing. — Many moths maybe taken at twilight hovering over flowers; and this mode of 

 collecting is termed " mothing." The large Sphinges frequent honeysuckle, petunia, &c.; and among 

 the most attractive flowers to Noctiice, &c., may be mentioned valerian, heliotrope, clover, and in 

 general any strongly-scented flowers. The blossoms of the lime, the sallow, and the ivy are also 

 peculiarly attractive. Bombyces either fly by day, or later in the evening than the Sphinges. They 

 are rarely met with at flowers, but fly in search of the females at the edges of woods, or on heaths 

 or meadows. The GeometrcB fly in the evening or at night, among weeds and bushes, but often 

 come to flowers. Many species may be disturbed by beating, or found at rest in the daytime. 

 Day-flying NoctucB are generally found on heaths, meadows, or clover-fields ; but many nocturnal 

 species of Agrotis, &c., may be found clinging to the flowers of thistles and similar plants in the 

 daytime, especially in the mountains. But most of the NoctiicB fly at dusk or at night. Many 

 rare species oi Dimithcecia, &.C., maybe collected at the flowers of the white campions (^z'^v/^ 

 injlata and maritinia), which are common on many parts of the sea-coast, and are most attractive 

 in June. In August the flowers of the rag-weed attract many species of Agrotis, &c. Many 

 moths, especially Noctna, may also be attracted by a light placed at an open window, especially if 

 the latter overlooks a garden or a meadow. 



Sugaring. — Many years ago the Brothers Doubleday discovered that the empty sugar- 

 hogsheads thrown out into their yard at Epping were visited by moths at night, for the sake of 

 the sugar still adhering to the inside. This hint was soon improved upon ; and the trunks of the 

 trees along Mr. Doubleday's field are (or were lately) entirely blackened in many places with the 

 sweet mixture daubed over them night after night for years. Sugar-hogsheads having soon been 

 abandoned, a sweet mixture brushed over the trunks of trees was used instead, and this mode of 

 collecting is called "sugaring," and is found particularly efficacious for attracting A'(3<;/'//a'. The 

 compound generally used in England is a mixture of coarse brown sugar and beer, boiled down 

 thick enough to adhere to the trees, but not so thick as to be inconvenient in use. It must be 

 applied to the trunks of trees with a common paint-brush. Tins are sold for this purpose with 

 a brush fixed in the lid ; but any one can use what apparatus suits him best. When it 

 gets dusk the sugared trees must be examined with a lantern as carefully as possible, to 

 avoid disturbing the moths. If they take fright, they fly away or fall down; and it is usual to 

 add a few drops of rum to the sugar, which stupefies them, and renders them more sluggish. 



