﻿A SUCCESSFUL MOTH-TRAP. 233 



work, and any one setting up a moth-trap which has to stand out 

 of doors in all weathers will soon find that the more simple it is 

 in its construction the better. The doors, drawers, lids, &c, are 

 sure to warp, and either stick or become loose, and, in fact, to be 

 a general source of trouble and annoyance. 



The lamp I use is an ordinary paraffin duplex lamp with 

 reflector, such as are used to hang up against walls. Care must 

 be taken that the flame of the lamp should be in the centre of the 

 box, and on a level with the opening, k. It may be asked, What 

 condition are the moths in when you visit the trap in the morn- 

 ing ? To this I reply that, taking them all round, they are in 

 better condition than I expected they would be before I had tried 

 the trap. On an average the specimens are nearly as good as 

 those attracted by light into a dwelling-house ; these last have 

 to be netted in the room, and are liable to damage themselves 

 against the ceiling and about the lamp before they are caught. 



Looking at my section of the box it will be seen that a good 

 deal of the moth-chamber is in shadow, owing to the partition, 

 e, f, being opaque, i. e., wood, and only having a small window in 

 its centre. This gives the moths a chance of settling down 

 quietly out of sight of the lamp, and I think that many of them 

 do so. Many of the moths taken in the trap are absolutely 

 perfect. I do not think that, as a rule, the Geometers injure 

 themselves at all inside the trap. Of course there are exceptions: 

 Melanippe montanata, for example, generally flies about and spoils 

 itself. 



On the other hand I have this season taken about twenty 

 specimens of Odontopera bidentata ; most of these were absolutely 

 fresh, and none of them were worn, so that I believe I found 

 them in the same condition as when they entered the trap. Most 

 of the Bombyces and Noctuse spoil themselves more or less. 

 Still, there are a good many to be found quite perfect, without the 

 fringes being in the least frayed. 



As to numbers caught, the trap is very seldom empty ; I often 

 find a dozen moths within and not unfrequently more. I have 

 taken as many as fifty in one night. 



I consider this kind of moth-trap a most valuable adjunct to 

 the usual means of collecting Lepidoptera ; and as it can be used 

 every night, and all night, with only the trouble of lighting it 

 once in the evening, the advantages are obvious. 



I append a list of moths taken in my trap, which has been 

 set either in or close to large woods of oak, beech, and the usual 

 kinds of copse and underwood growing upon a chalk soil. 



At Emsworth, in May, June, and July, 1887 — 90 : — 



8. ligustri, N. mundana, E. jacobace, S. lubricipeda, S. menthastri, 

 Hepialus, one, Juno 5, (sylvanus or lupulinm), D.pudibunda, B.falcataria,L. 

 camelina, N. trepida, P. bacephalus, D. coryli, A. ligustri, L. conigera, L. 

 Uthargyria, L. pallens, X. monogbjpha, M. penicarice, 11. lenebrosa, A. 



