90 OF THE SENSES OF 



some quiet retreat. In these situations, they are 

 supposed to be discovered by the sense of smell in 

 the males, which can be accomplished at a great 

 distance. This has long been known to British 

 entomologists. For we find, by the writings of Barbut 

 and Moses Harris, that they were aware of this fact, 

 and practised a mode of catching the males, which 

 they termed sembling, from possessing a female of the 

 species in confinement. Haworth says, " It is a 

 frequent practice with the London Aurelians, when 

 they breed a female of the Lappit Moth, (Gaster 

 opacha quercifolia,) and some other day flying 

 species, to take her in a box with a gauze lid, into 

 the vicinity of the woods, where, if the weather be 

 favourable, she never fails to attract a numerous train 

 of males, whose only business appears to be an 

 incessant, rapid, and undulating flight in search of the 

 females. One of these is no sooner discovered, than 

 they become so much enamoured of their fair kins- 

 woman, as absolutely to lose all fear for their own 

 personal safety, which, at other times, is effectually 

 secured by the reiterated evolutions of their strong 

 and rapid wings. So fearless, indeed, have I beheld 

 them on these occasions, as to climb up and down the 

 sides of the cage which contained the dear object of 

 their eager pursuit, in exactly the same manner as 

 Honey Bees which have lost themselves, climb up 

 and down the glasses of a window." 



After the butterflies, sphinges, and moths, have 

 arrived at their perfect, or imago condition, their 

 whole business seems to be the fulfilment of that 

 3 



