166 APnOBIfiMATA ENTOMOLOGIOA. 



or are also to be made of tin; and if lacquered or japanned their appearance 

 will be rather more neat. They are to be made of small size, say four inches 

 long by three wide, and about three quarters of an inch in depth. Fill them 

 with small pill boxes, each with the lid perforated with a number of pin holes 

 to admit the air, and the fumes of sulphur when applied, as about to be 

 explained. 



Instead of putting any minute moths you may catch into the pocket box, 

 put one into each pill box, enclosing them by holding the bos, with the lid 

 off, against the part of the net where you have confined them for the purpose, 

 and then, "stealing a march" upon them, putting the lid on again; all this a 

 little practice will explain. Thus you have not touched them at all: and on 

 your arrival at home, or wherever you want to see them, pile the pill boxes 

 under a tumbler near the edge of a table, only do not let it be your best one ; 

 light two or three brimstone matches; draw part of the glass over the edge 

 of the table; hold the matches underneath, so that the fumes of the brimstone 

 can ascend into the glass, taking care not to touch the glass with the light, 

 or it will be cracked; and as soon as you see, or rather when you can see 

 nothing in the glass for the smoke, replace it entirely on the table, to confine 

 the vapour, and in a few seconds all the moths will be apparently dead, and 

 by leaving them there for a little while they will become entirely so. Then is 

 the time to set them, and to set them well, uninjured in the smallest degree 

 by the touch of your hand. 



These pill boxes will often bo found very useful for bringing home the smaller 

 caterpillars in; and for the larger ones, any small boxes will do. I have found 

 the round-turaed luoifer match-boxes to answer admirably for this or any other 

 kindred purpose. But it is getting on towards midnight, and I must for the 

 present conclude. 



"a trap to C.iTCH A MOONBEAM. 



Anotitee mode of capturing moths — ' 'unde a quo abi redeo ' — is by means 

 of a light — to which, in the dusk of the evening, they are attracti^d I 

 proceed to give two or three different methods of procedure. One plim, of 

 primitive simplicit}', and which was adopted by us at school, was to place a 

 candle near an open window; tie a long string to the handle of the frame — 

 they were old-fashioned lattice ones — get comfortably into bed, and when a moth 

 made his 'entree' pull the window instantly to, thus securing him within. 



The following is a much more elaborate method, invented and adopted by 

 my friend, the Eev. Prancis Lockey, of Swanswick Cottage, near Bath, to whom, 

 kno^ving how successful he had formerly been in its practical operation, I wrote 

 for particulars, which he has obligingly furnished me with, as follows: — 



"Many years have elapsed since I have engaged in entomological pursuits, 

 but I most readily reply to your inquiry as to the mode adopted of moth- 

 capturing at night. 



