624 



♦ KNOWLEDGE ♦ 



[May 2G, 1882. 



of times oa mnch energy as our sun poors on all the planets. Tho 

 difliculty, or nither the mystery, tindcrlying the constant emission 

 of eo Imu'h wiistod Uf^\.t and hcut is not removed, unless wo are to 

 assume tliat tho distance between the stnrs and our sun is not 

 snllicient for tV.o utilisation of more than a part, possibly a very 

 Bninll part, of a sun's cncrpy. Hut even if this were admitted 

 as reasonable, instead of being rejected as obviously tho reverse, 

 who that recopnises tho vastness of tho interstellar S|iaces or 

 knows how many millions of years would be required to 

 draw matter from midstellar space to tho ncighbouihood of 

 even the nearest sun, cJin for a moment suppose that tho matter 

 thus prepared can be used up as Dr. Siemens' theory requires ? 

 What matters it, so far as this mystery of mysteries, the mystery 

 of infinite energy seemingly wasted, is concerned, whether solar 

 and stellar rays of light and heat are directly lost {to our vniverse) 

 as they are radiated through interstellar sijace, or whether they 

 are constantly employed in modifying matter which can never by 

 any chance come (in time to be of use) to any star in space? 



Considering that the forces conceived by Dr. Siemens have, in 

 the first place, no existence, so that the mechanism of his "per- 

 petual round " could never even be started ; that, secondly, the 

 work suppo.sed by him to be done in interstellar and interplanetary 

 space is certainly not done (or the stors would not shine as they 

 do) ; and that, thirdly, if the work were done there it would be 

 altogether worthless, I venture to say that Dr. Siemens' theory is 

 absolutely inadmissible. If it be asked why, that being so, the 

 mathematicians of the Royal Society invited Dr. Siemens to read 

 his paper, I can only suggest that this was but a just and proper 

 tribute to the excellent scientific work for which he is, and will 

 always remain, deservedly eminent. Eichabd A. Proctob.] 



BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS. 



AS the month goes on, both moths and butterflies are becoming 

 more and more plentiful, both in regard to the number of 

 individuals and the species to bo obtained. 



During the week just passed we have had over twenty moths 

 emerge from the pupa, the larva or caterpillars of which we bred 

 last year. 



This breeding is the best means of getting a good collection, as 

 the insects come fresh and undamaged from the chrysalis, whilst 

 those caught by any other method whatever are sure to sustain some 

 breakage or other damage, and we adviso collectors to take all 

 caterpillars they can find, and breed them up. Some difficulty may 

 be experienced at first as to food, but by taking notice from what 

 trees the caterpillars are taken, and feeding with the same, the 

 difficulty is overcome. 



In redem))tion of one of our last week's promises, we now give 

 the most commonly-employed methods for catching butterflies and 

 moths. For butterflies the only way is to have a net, various forms 

 of which are in use, the clap-net, and oval or round sweeping-net 

 being most common. The clap-net is a rectangular piece of gauze 

 with a rod at each side, which latter are used as handles. To 

 capture an insect with this the net is thrown over it, and the side- 

 rods or handles rapidly brought together. This action encompasses 

 the victim in the folds of the net, where he is killed and transferred 

 to the pocket-box. 



The sweeping-net is a deep bag of the same material as the last, 

 the mouth being kept open by a piece of cane or thick wire bent to 

 the form of an oval or circle. The net should be about 3 ft. in depth 

 by 1 ft. across the top, and tapering to a point at the bottom, this 

 size being tho most convenient, anything much larger proving too 

 clumsy in use. Personally wo prefer this form to the clap-net, 

 though first-class work can be done with either with a little practice. 



Whilst hunting butterflies, one rule must be observed, 7iever get 

 between Die sun and the insect, as your shadow will nearly always 

 prove fatal to the chance of capture ; also, try to get to windward, 

 if possible. 



As moths fly principally in the night-time, very different methods 

 to the above must bo adopted. Sugaring is that most generally in 

 use. It consists in smearing the trunks of trees in woods, forests, 

 Ac., with a composition formed of beer and sugar boiled together, 

 with siifticient new rum added when cold, to give it a strong smell, 

 and to increase its intoxicating properties. The moths come to it 

 m great numbers, and becoming quite stupefied with the rum, can 

 be easily taken in the chip-boxes mentioned in last article. When 

 sugaring, a good lantern, preferably a bull's-eve, is indispensable to 

 show up the moths in the dark. The hour to begin sugaring de- 

 pends on the state of the weather, Ac, but, generally speaking, as 

 soon as it becomes tolerably dark it is time to start. 'A still, warm 

 night will be sure to supply plenty of game, but if there is any 

 East in tho wind, or a bright shining moon, scarcely a moth will be 



Numeroas other ways hare been tried, some dependent on the 



various tastes of the insects, others on tho well-known proclivity 

 moths have for coming to a light. An ingenions contrivance called, 

 the " American Moth Trap," made by Mr, Cooke, of Muscam- 

 fitreet, W., operates on the latter principle, and often makes very 

 good bags. Details of this will be given in a future number. 



Thoso moths which fly in the day-time can be caught with the' 

 net in tho same manner as butterflies, and many nightflicrs can be 

 captured in a similar way in broad daylight by boating the 

 hedges with a strong stick, the moths being frightened out of their 

 hiding-places under the leaves by the unusual commotion. 



The classification list which I mentioned in last week's paper ig- 

 too long for these jiages at present, but at some future pericd.whcD 

 tho season's work is nearly finished, we will give it in full, with Mr- 

 Editor's permission. At present we should advise our readers to 

 separate their insects simply into butterflies and moths until tho 

 busy time is over, when they can be arranged and named at leisure. 

 The principal and most prominent difference between the two con- 

 sists in the antenna;, or bonis, of butterflies being furnished with a 

 knob or club-shaped thickening at the extremity, while in moths 

 this is wanting. There are several other structural differences, but 

 the above is the most easily recognised. 



We now give the two diagrams mentioned in last week's paper. 

 Fig. 1 is a setting-board, tho shaded portion being cork, with a 

 groove cut down the centre, and the unshaded a w^ooden backing, 



'm/:<yMhMmmm. 



Fig. 1. 



preferably pine, to increase the stiffness and strength. The whole 

 should bo covered with soft, white paper, as this adds greatly to 

 the appearance, by giving a neat and finished look to the otherwise 

 unsightly board. 



Fig. 2 shows an insect set out on one of the above boards. The 

 ninrfi'S operandi is as follows: — First stick a pin through the 

 thorax of the insect, and fix into the centre of the setting-board, 

 with tho body in the groove. Then stretch out the wings in the 

 manner shown with a very fine needle, and keep in position with 



Fig. 2. 



strips of cardboard pinned tightly over them. Be careful to ret 

 the wings symmetrically, as it adds greatly to the appearance of 

 the insect when in the cabinet or store-box. Practice, however, is 

 the only thing required for this, and the experience gaiued by 

 setting half-a-dozen moths is worth volumes of description and 

 theory. 



Mr. Francis Gkorgk He.4th has accepted the editorship of the 

 Jouimal of Forestry, the new volume of which, just commencing, 

 will give considerable space to all subjects interesting to lovers of 

 the country. 



Messrs. Smith, Ei.dek & Co., have announced for immediate 

 publication the first volume of a work on "Human Morphology," 

 by Mr. H. A. Reeves, of the London and other hospitals. Tho book 

 will consist of seven hundred jjages, and will contain five hundred 

 and fifty illustrations, and is likely to become a standard authority 

 in its department. Two other volumes are to follow, and each will 

 contain tables and numerous illustrations. A work on diseases of 

 the breast, by the same author, and containing new views, will 

 also shortly be issued. 



