Insects. 



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breathes, aud the connection of these with the tracheae, which are in truth the lungs 

 of an insect, has been fully proved by Herold, Straus-Durckheira and Lyonnet ; but 

 no one has ever indicated the presence of breathing holes or spiracles in the back. Yet 

 what else can we call these openings ? as the larva breathes the action of these openings 

 becomes very obvious ; they appear to open and close with great regularity, reminding 

 one very forcibly of the rhythmical breathing of fishes, in which we see the gills open 

 and close in the most methodical manner. The point still to be ascertained is this, 

 Are the dorsal valvular openings connected with the tracheae ? It is not for me to 

 prosecute the enquiry ; I leave it to younger heads and abler hands, and I am well 

 aware that there are those among the members of the Haggerstone Society who have 

 not merely the talent, but the perseverance and assiduity, to conduct the inquiry to a 

 successful issue. — Edward Newman. — Read before ilie Haggerstone Entomological 

 Society. 



The York Moth Trap. — As the most prolific period of the season to search the gas 

 lamps for moths is fast approaching, I will endeavour to explain a contrivance to 

 facilitate their capture in such positions without having each time to climb the lamp- 

 post, an accomplishment for the trouble of which the only reward so often is a species 

 " abundaut everywhere," and which not seldom deters one from making an ascent 

 when the reward would be of greater value. To remove this drawback I have adopted 

 the following expedient. Take a number of smooth, round turned wooden boxes, say 

 two and a quarter inches in diameter, and have a rectangular tin frame then made, 

 near two and a half inches long, and open at each end, into which any one of these 

 boxes without the lid will slide on the application of a slight pressure. Each box 

 must have on the side a small loop of wire for a swivel and band to be attached to 

 when used. On each side of the tin frame is soldered a piece of watch-spring about 

 a quarter of an inch in width, extending an inch beyond the open end, bent inwards 

 to grasp the wooden box and hold it in a steady position outside the tin frame, and 

 also to allow it to be easily drawn within. At the opposite end is a small stop or pro- 

 jection to top and bottom, to keep the wooden box when used from moving in that 

 direction beyond the tin case. Midway on each side of the frame a small punched 

 piece of tin with a hole in the middle must be placed, into one of which will fit a pin 

 and in the other a screw belonging to the two extremities of a pair of brass arms 

 permanently attached to a socket of the same material, into which can be placed the 

 end of a rod. The tin frame, with a box within it, is now placed between the brass 

 arms, and by means of the screw and pin, upon which the frame works as on a centre, 

 and adapts itself to the position of the lamp or object on which the moth is sitting. When 

 in use the wooden box held by the springs must be upwards, and the loop on the box 

 will be downwards. The rod must of course be long enough to reach the usual height 

 of the lamps, for which two or three sections of a fishing-rod may be made available. 

 Now attach a cord (nearly the same length as the rod) to a small swivel or hook, and 

 the swivel to the loop on the box, the string coming through that end of the frame 

 where the stops are. After placing the rod in the socket push the box out so as to be 

 held by the springs, and by aid of the rod place the box over the insect at rest, then 

 steadily draw the box within the frame by means of the string, which will effectually 

 secure the moth. Now bring down the rod and disengage the swivel from the 

 loop, then gently push the box out, at the same time carefully putting on the lid, 

 and substitute another box prepared in the same manner as the previous one, 



