INTRODUCTIOM. 
63 
of certain kinds, possess an extraordinary acuteness 
in tlie sense of smell (or, it may be, are gifted ivith 
some peculiar faculty the nature of which is un- 
known to us), by the intimations of which they can 
discover the opposite sex at a great distance, and in 
the most secret situations. Advantage is often taken 
by collectors of this circumstance to secure specimens 
of the rarer kmds, and the fi>lloning plan, as de- 
scribed by Mr. Haworth, may fi-equently be followed 
with success when most others are unavailing. “ It 
is a frequent practice,” he says, “ with London 
AiueUans, when they breed a female of this and 
some other day-flying species (he speaks of Lasio- 
campa Qtterctis J, to take her, whUe yet a virgin, 
into the vicinity of woods, when, if the weather be 
favourable, she never fails to attract a numerous 
train of males, whose only business seems to be an 
incessant, rapid, and undulating flight in search of 
their unimpregnated females. One of which is no 
sooner perceived, than they become so much ena- 
moured of their fair and chaste relation, as absolutely 
to lose aU kind of ffejir for their own personal safety, 
which, at other times, is efiectually secured by the 
reiterated evolutions of their strong and rapid wings. 
So fearless indeed have I beheld them on these 
occasions, as to climb up and down the sides of the 
cage which contained the object of their eager 
pursuit, in exactly the same hurrying manner as 
honey-bees, which have lost themselves, climb up 
and do^vn the glasses of a window.” The Chinese 
likewise turn this ardour in pm-suit of the female 
