MOTHS AND BUTTERFLIES, OR LFPIDOPTERA. 1 23 



When it is desired to pack butterflies for transportation they 

 should have the wiiigs folded back into the position they occupy 

 when at rest, and should then be put in a paper folded in the shape 

 of a three-cornered envelope; the locality and date of capture 

 may be written on the envelope before putting the specimen in it. 

 The paper used should be soft, not too stiff or heavy, and care should 

 be taken in placing the specimen in, so that its wings, or feelers 

 will not catch in tke folds of the paper and become broken or 

 scratched. These papers should be put in a wooden box until it is 

 a little more than full, and before fastening the lid down put in a 

 little gum-camphor to keep the vermin away until the box reaches 

 its destination. 



Besides the Butterflies proper, there are various moths (Hetero- 

 cera, ) that also fly in daytime ; among them the Humming-bird 

 'Hawk moths, Sesia TJiysbe^ S. dijjfiiizs, &^c. ;) these must be treated 

 the same way as Hesperidae, but as they are large-waisted 

 creatures p;(.,sure would spoil their beauty. Tliey should be 

 killed by inserting a needle dipped in oxalic acid or cyanide of 

 potash, thrusting it into the head and passing it through the body 

 once or twice. 



During the day many small moths may be detected on the un- 

 derside of leaves on shady corners of rocks, under the eaves of 

 houses, &c. These can be captured by placing your wide-mouthed 

 Cyanide Bottle over them, when they will become overpowered by 

 the fumes of the drug and drop into the jar, from whence they 

 may be taken out and pinned in the collecting box. 



Catocalas may be taken in the same manner. These fine moths 

 during the day sit on trunks of trees, and are scarcely distinguish- 

 able from the bark. For night collecting a preparation of rum 

 and sugar mixed to the consistency of syrup should be painted in 

 patches and strips on the trunks of trees and other suitable places; 

 this has a wonderful attraction for Noctuae and many by this 

 means may be obtained, which otherwise would never grace the 

 naturalist's cabinet. 



The moths will alight on this sweet mixture, and by directing 

 the light of a lantern on them and using your Cyanide Bottle you 



