118 



available places, or even ou the foliage of bushes at sunset. As tho 

 darkness increases the moths gradually begin to fly until the whole 

 are on the "wing, and when satisfied with their flutter they settle. 

 By and bye the lanthorn may be lit, and the syrup examined. The 

 season for collecting is now rapidly approaching its height, and so 

 many species may be taken here that all cannot be enumerated in this 

 paper; we will, therefore, mention only a few of the principal ones. 

 Of the Sphinges, Chcsrocampa porcellus may sometimes be taken here 

 on syrup ; the Noctua are, however, the chief family sought for, and 

 of these the following may be mentioned Heliothis Marginata, Orthosia 

 Ypsilon, Leucania Comma, L. Littoralis, Agrotis Corticea, A. Valligera, 

 A. Cursoria, A. Triiici, A. Aquilina, A. Puta, Caradrina Als'mes, C. 

 Morpheus, Miana Furuncula ; Noctua Triangulum; Rusina Tenehrosa ; 

 Hadena Lutulenta ; Calocampa Vetusia; and others. They do not all 

 appear at once, but may be taken here from time to time. Many lepi- 

 doptera of other families may also be obtained here during the summer 

 and autumnal months. 



At the end of July the ragwort fSenecio JacohceaJ is bursting into 

 flower, and is a noted attraction for many lepidoptera. With regard 

 to the moths, the various species of Agrotis, &c., together with Spcelotis 

 prtscox, and many others which fly at the end of July and during 

 August, are those to be sought for. It is well to add before leaving 

 this plant, that the night flying Noctuce are, in summer, frequently 

 driven from their usual hiding places by the heat, and that, tired of 

 flying, they resort to the ragwort flower by day, where they are fanned 

 by the cool breeze w-hilst resting in mid-air, and where they may 

 frequently be taken abundantly. 



There is another method of capture, very servicable at the end of 

 August and during autumn, when the nights are becoming long and 

 dark. It is to use a lamp) which throws a strong, bright light. This 

 is an attraction for many species which are seldom taken by any other 

 means. By this plan we may find the Lupernia cespiiis. This is a 

 rare and peculiar insect, which indulges in midnight revelry, and 

 any little hill, or slope which has a landward aspect is the spot to be 

 selected. The insect now appears, but goes again, and shortly repeats 

 its gyrations, then dashes at the lamp which it cannot i-each ; it plunges 

 about in every direction, but is netted by the entomologist and secured. 

 At this season we must expect many- wasted specimens not worth 

 taking, for the summer species are all dying out. 



The author here referred to the method of rearing insects for the 

 cabinet, which, though a troublesome process, is the one most likely to 

 ■secure delicate specimens. 



