l66 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



tcned to any tree or post by nailing. The whole apparatus weighed 

 but a few pounds. For transportation the lantern was removable 

 from the arm, and the leader rolled up about it. 



The trap consisted of a truncated cone of light-weight tin [f], 

 cut to fit inside the rim of the reflector of the lantern, and having 

 three hooks for attachment that snapped on over the outward 

 projection of the rim. Within the tin cone was another shorter 

 and more truncated cone of celluloid [g], having the hole at its 

 apex large enough to admit the largest of the insects desired to 

 be captured. The two cones were of almost equal diameter at 

 base, where they were fastened together by means of ordinary 

 wire paper clips. No cyanide cup was provided, none being 

 necessary ; it was quite sufficient to place the cyanide well 

 wrapped in absorbent paper in the space between the cones on 

 the lower side, as shown at h in the f gure. 



The leader [c], hung out in front in the axis of the cone of light, 

 is of advantage on two accounts: i It vastly increases the area 

 of lighted surface, and this, as is well known, rather than the 

 intensity of the light, determines the alluring power of- the trap. 

 2 The leader serves as a convenient alighting place in front of the 

 trap. And most of those that are trapped alight first upon the 

 leader, and then jump directly into the celluloid cone and pass 

 through the hole in its center, into the cyanide chamber. More- 

 over, swift-flying insects, which would sweep by a sniall trap and 

 might not return again to it, are likely to be arrested by the leader. 

 The leader we made of thin white muslin. 



The weight shown at / in the figure, and the cord [i] extend- 

 ing back therefrom to the edge of the trap, are merely intended 

 to keep the leader properly hung, and are not necessary except 

 when a breeze is blowing or when the cloth is crumpled. 



Given proper conditions of darkness and warmth, this trap lan- 

 tern works excellently. Most photophilous insects alight upon the 

 leader and pass directly from it into the trap where in a few 

 seconds the cyanide fumes^ quiet them. They accumulate in a 

 layer on the lower side. This lantern is waterproof. 



Let no one imagine that even the best trap lantern possible will 

 make a good catch every night. The collector who has sugared 

 for moths, or the teacher who has picked up laboratory material 



^ It should be more generally known that boracic acid crystals mixed with 

 pulverized cyanide of potassium, cause an accelerated evolution of cyanide 

 fumes, resulting in the kiUing of the captives more quickly and the preserva- 

 tion of the entire catch in better condition. 



