106 
INTRODUCTION. 
were seen and taken upon it. Unfortunately, the 
best part of the season was nearly over before I 
commenced operations, as it was not exposed till 
after the middle of August ; but from the success I 
have had up to the present time, I am convinced it 
is one of the most effectual modes of obtaining the 
noctnidie, and that many which would otherwise 
escape observation are thus to be obtained. Indeed, 
some of those I have already procured, I had never 
before met with in this district ; and I dare say, but 
for this attractive trap, they would have remained 
long undiscovered, as some of them are in their 
force or full flight at a much later period than we 
are generally accustomed to look after moths. I 
anticipate a rich harvest during the ensuing spring 
and summer, not only of the noctuiihe, but also of 
the other large moths ; the Geometridas and smaller 
species I know come to it, as some of them have 
already been taken upon it. By this mode also, 
many interesting particulars relating to their natural 
history are likely to become knomi to us, such as 
the period of duration of different species, the pro- 
portion of males and females, &c. I find that in 
the early part of the season their duration is much 
shorter than at a later ; in many of those occurring 
in August and September, it seldom exceeded two 
or three weeks ; whereas such as did not appear till 
towards tire end of October have continued till the 
present period, that is, nearly three months ; as 
I have taken every mild evening specimens of 
Gtea Satellitia up to the 26th of January, and 
