106 INTRODUCTION. 



were seen and taken upon it. Unfortunately, the 

 best part of the season was nearly over hefore I 

 commenced operations, as it was not exposed till 

 after the middle of August ; but from the success I 

 have had up to the present time, I am convinced it 

 is one of the most effectual modes of obtaining the 

 noctuidae, and that many which would otherwise 

 escape observation are thus to be obtained. Indeed, 

 some of those I have already procured, I had never 

 before met with in this district ; and I dare say, but 

 for this attractive trap, they would have remained 

 long undiscovered, as some of them are in their 

 force or full flight at a much later period than we 

 are generally accustomed to look after moths. I 

 anticipate a rich harvest during the ensuing spring 

 and summer, not only of the noctuidae, but also of 

 the other large moths ; the Geometridas and smaller 

 species I know come to it, as some of them have 

 already been taken upon it. By this mode also, 

 many interesting particulars relating to their natural 

 history are likely to become known to us, such as 

 the period of duration of different species, the pro- 

 portion of males and females, &c. I find that in 

 the early part of the season their duration is much 

 shorter than at a later ; in many of those occurring 

 in August and September, it seldom exceeded two 

 or three weeks ; whereas such as did not appear till 

 towards the end of October have continued till the 

 present period, that is, nearly three months; as 

 I have taken every mild evening specimens of 

 Glcea Satellitia up to the 26th of January, and 



