■2 PREFACE. 



insect world, on a balmy night of summer or autumn, the collector, by placing a light near his open 

 window, may ensure the appearance of a variety of moths ; indeed on a favourable night they will follow 

 each other in almost uninterrupted succession, from dusk to dawn, attracted by the treacherous beacon, 

 to their capture. And how interesting is it to the naturalist to watch the punctuality with which each 

 nightly traveller, or set of travellers, keeps to fixed and stated hours of flight ; every period of the night 

 having its peculiar visitants ; so that a clock of moths may be imagined, as Linnaeus formed a dial of 

 flowers *. 



Many other methods of attracting moths may be adopted with equal success. A female moth, taken 

 into the fields or woods, which the species is likely to frequent, will generally attract many males to the 

 spot where she is placed. I have known many beautiful specimens of the Emperor moth captured within 

 the short space of half an hour by this method. Mr. Doubleday has recently tried the experiment of 

 bi-ushing a mixture of sugar and water upon the bark of trees where moths are likely to abound, and 

 found the plan perfectly successful, having captured immense numbers this season in that way, many of 

 them of the most rare and beautiful species. And an ingenious collector, by studying nature and 

 closely examining the habits of the insects, may adopt many other modes equally, or perhaps more, 

 successful. 



1 had originally intended forming a separate work of the .Sphinges ; but, finding them not sufficiently 

 numerous, I have determined to give them with the Moths, of which work they will occupy a few of the 

 early numbers. 



H. N. II. 



October, 1841. 



* Krom tl,e carlj-i-.xpan.ling convolvulus to tbo evening primrose and niglit-flowering cereus a clock niav I.e furnicd, which would indicate 

 the time Iv the opening of a llowcr, instead of the striking of a hell. 



