152 



New Trap for Winged Insects. 



inventor; but the cheap, simple, and effective principle of 

 them cannot be too widely disseminated ; and it will probably 

 very soon be found worth the attention of glaziers, tin-men, 

 and other artizans, to make them small and cheap for general 



use in dwelling-houses 



Take, a common hand-glass, the hexagonal or any other 

 form will do [fig. 45.) ; 45 



remove in the apex the 

 whole or part of three of 

 the panes (a, b, c). Then 

 take a second hand-glass, 

 which must be of the same 

 form as the first, and 

 place it on the roof of the first, so that the sides of the one may 

 coincide with the sides of the other ; then all the interstices 

 between the bottom of the one and the eaves of the other, (at 

 e 9 f,g,) must be stopped with moss, wool, or any suitable sub- 

 stance, which will prevent the 

 entrance or exit of flies. The 

 bottom hand-glass must rest 

 on three pieces of bricks 

 (Jig. 46.), to form an open- 

 ing underneath. The ap- 

 pearance of the trap when 

 completed is simply that of 

 one hand-glass above another. (Jig. 47.) 



Fragments of waste fruit are laid on the ground, under the 

 bottom hand-glass, to attract the flies, which, having once 

 entered, never descend again to get out, but rise into the upper 

 glass, and buzz about under its roof, till, fatigued and ex- 

 hausted, they drop down, and are seen lying dead on the roof 

 of the under glass. One of these traps, placed conspicuously 

 on the ground before a fruit-wall or hot-house, acts as a de- 

 coy. It is surprising to see the eagerness with which all kinds 

 of insects go to examine it, and seeing various kinds of their 

 fellows within, they enter also, and flying upwards, buzz through 

 the open panes, (a, b, c,) and perish altogether in the cavity 

 between the two hand-glasses ; — from whence we have added 

 many curious specimens to our collection of insects, particu- 

 larly several species of Papilio, Phalaena, Tipula, &c. &c. 

 (Turton's System of Nature, vol. iii.) 



I am, Sir, &c. 



John Wilson. 

 Welbeck-Garclens, Oct. 31. 1826. 



