NATURE .STUDY I.ESSONS. 177 



will fly greedily at the patch of rum and molasses, or su- 

 gar syrup, and, unless this has been spread very thin and 

 very carefully, will not only stick fast in it, but will so be- 

 smear themselves as to be useless as specimens in a collec- 

 tion. It is not uncommon, in going the rounds of the su- 

 gared trees, to find numbers of moths thus perishing mis- 

 erably through their blind heedlessness and greed. 



But it is not so with the Underwings. They are as fond 

 of rum and molasses as are their greedy cousins of the 

 great Owlet family, but they have more self-control. A 

 Catocala, or Underwing, will fl.y a long way, attracted by 

 the strong odor of the rum, but when she reaches the tree 

 upon which the tempting liquid has been placed, she pro- 

 ceeds with great circumspection. In the first place, if it 

 is a white birch or other nearly white tree, she will not 

 alight at all, as I have satisfied myself after many experi- 

 ments. Much as she loves sweets, she will not take risks 

 in gratifiying her appetite. If the color of the tree is of 

 about the same shade as her dress, however, she will ap- 

 proach cautiously and alight near the tempting patch, but 

 not upon it. Then she will approach until she can reach 

 the molasses with the tip of her long tongue, and settle 

 down to enjoy herself in her own dainty fashion, while 

 other moths are struggling hopelessly in what has proved 

 for them a sea of trouble. Probably, if she thinks at all, 

 she thinks they have made great fools of themselves. 



It is not alwa5's easy to catch the Catocala, even after 

 she has settled down to secure her fill. 



For often, as the first gleam of light falls upon her, she 

 will fly away, and all the collector will have for his trouble 

 will be a momentary glimpse of the bright under-wings of 

 a large, graceful moth which he feels sure is more beauti- 

 ful than any moth he ever saw before. 



With care, however, which one will learn in time to ex- 

 ercise, a few of each species will be taken sooner or later, 



