158 



during the greater part of the summer there were countless 



flowering plants in the gardens giving off strong scents which 



would prove more attractive to the moths than black treacle and 



rum. When the ivy is in blossom in the autumn, this usually 



successful mixture is a failure. But it was interesting to 



notice that as soon as most of the heavily scented flowering 



plants had ceased blooming the sugar bait became effective. The 



only insects which were unable to resist the subtle effluvia thrown 



off by the treacle before August were a few Dipterygia pinastri, 



Agrotis corticea, Agrotis pronuba, Hadena polyodon, Agrotis 



exclamationis, Eaplexia lucipara and Rusina tenebrosa, caught 



in the order named. Some of these became old friends. Night 



after night the same individuals were to be observed imbibing 



on the same tree until in the course of time fate overtook them ; 



they paid the penalty of over indulgence and the patch of treacle 



knew them no more. Two toads evidently understood the 



connection between treacle, moths, and the satisfying of their 



appetites. They had placed themselves at the base of an elm tree 



and awaited patiently for what the gods sent them in the shape of 



inebriated moths. One toad had emulated the tree-climbing 



propensities of its cousin the climber and by dint of great 



exertion managed to climb three feet up the trunk of the tree to 

 get at its prey. 



A remarkably interesting flashlight photograph of moths at 

 treacle was taken in September by Mr. W. J. Holman and is 

 reproduced on the opposite page. There are seven moths, all of 

 the same species (Noctua xanthographa), shewn feeding on the 

 treacle placed on the trunk of a large oak tree. At the moment 

 the magnesium was flashed there were over titty of these moths 

 and of Cosmia dilfinis on the tree. Great efforts were made to 

 induce a very large Catocala nupta, which was on the treacle at 

 the time, to come into the field of operations, but in spite of all 

 blandishments and gentle tickling the red underwing could not 

 be persuaded, and finally shewed his objection to this treatment 

 by soaring into the shades of the night. The photograph shews 

 how well the moths approximate in colour and conformation to 

 their surroundings. A few minutes after the flash the moths had 

 returned to the treacle and were feeding as busily as before. 



A specially constructed light trap was also used on all favourable 

 nights in the summer, but this met with scarcely any success. It 

 was usually placed in the open glades in the Queen's Cottage 

 grounds. On one occasion it was put by the side of the lake 

 under an oak tree, and in the morning considerablv over a 

 hundred Crambus geniculeus were found inside. This was the 

 only night that it caught any number of moths. A strong light 

 was on many occasions hung from the trees at an altitude of 

 about twenty feet— this also was not a success. 



Mr R. South, F.E.S., who compiled the first list of Lepidoptera 

 which appeared in the Kew Bulletin, Additional Series, V., issued 

 last year very kindly went through the list of species captured, 

 along with the insects, and checked the naming. The writer wishes 

 to record the assistance he has received in obtaining the most recent 

 tacts and records from the late Mr. C. Barrett's magnificent work 



ihe Lepidoptera of the British Isles," and from Mey rick's 



