IV 



RHOPALOCERA NIHONICA. 



of dislodging moths from close low herbage, is by means of fuinigators, similar to those employed in 

 conservatories. 



Light is also a very productive method of obtaining moths. Gas-lamps on the outskirts of towns yield 

 an abundant harvest, and a light ladder should be carried, in order to take off the specimens by means of the 

 Cyanide Bottle. I may mention that it is as well to inform the police what the collector is after, and to carry 

 a box of matches to relight any lamps, that may be accidentally extinguished. A powerful lam p, enclosed 

 in a glass house, elevated in a conspicuous position on a pole, under wliich is a wliite cotton cloth, 

 will, on favorable nights, attract a host of specimens, many of whicli will be found seated on 

 the cloth. There are many forms of moth traps constructed on the principle of eel traps, so 

 that a moth once entering cannot escape ； they are baited either with sugar or a light. Many 

 species can usually only be taken at sugar, or the blossoms of certain flowers. Sugar is 

 made bv mixing black-sugar with Japanese sake, adding* a little rum and beer. This is smeared 

 on the tru n ks of trees just before dusk ； tlie trees are visited, and tlie specimens taken off in the 

 Cyanide Bottle, by the aid of the light of a lantern ； on favourable nights immense numbers of insects of 

 all orders, visit the sugar, but at other times hardly an insect is to be seen. Pine and cedar tree's are 

 generally unproductive. The evening primrose [CEnothera) is the best flower for hawk -moths, and is in 

 blossom for a lonp* time. The most attractive flo wer in the spring is the Staclivurus precox, the branches 

 of which should be gently shaken into a large flat umbrella. Ivy blossom should be similarly treated in 

 the autuirui. Sallow catkins are the favourite flowers, in the spring, in Great Britain, but are rarely visited 

 hy nioths in Japan . 



An accurate register of all specimens obtained should be carefully kept. This is easily effected by means 

 of numbers. A key or reference number is given to each species, and a subsidiary number to eacli specimen 

 captured ； the first number drives the page of the register, and against the second is written, in the register, 

 a record of the time and place of capture, together with any notes concerning the habits of the insect. I 

 liave seen many collections, which have been made with great expenditure of time and trouble, but 

 without a register being* kept by the collector, the specimens of which, might, so far as their practical value 

 was concerned, have been so many pieces of painted paper. Mere specimens have no intrinsic value ； it is 

 the facts concerning them which are of instruction and value. 



NOMENCLATURE. 



I have a few remarks to make concerning Nomenclature. In theory a combination of the generic 

 and specific name should denote a particular species, but unfortunately in practice exactly the opposite, in 

 very many instances, is the case. This is owingr to the misdirected zeal of u species makers " who multiply 

 genera and species out of all reason. The evil is an ever increasing one, and it is no unusual thing for 

 twenty or more names to be applied to a single species, necessitating the use of formidable lists of 



