34 
MOTHS AND BUTTERFLIES. 
COLLECTING WITH A LAMP. 
On warm, moonless nights, especially if cloudy, moths are 
attracted toward a bright light, and many insects rarely seen at 
other times may be taken in this way. A second-story window over¬ 
looking lawns and cultivated fields, not far from forest trees, makes 
a good place to try. The lamp should be one which gives a large 
and brilliant light and be placed on the window-sill with the window 
wide open, so that the moths may come into the room, where they 
may be taken with a small net or captured in the poison jar as they 
rest on the walls or the ceiling. A piazza or balcony with a lamp 
on a table will sometimes be found to answer the purpose well. In 
that case place the table and lamp against the side of the house, so 
that the moths as they fly about will alight on the clapboards near 
the lamp, where they may be easily captured. The side of the house 
away from the wind will be found most favorable for this mode of 
collecting. 
The good nights for taking moths in this way are not numerous, 
and one must make the most of them when they come. Collecting 
in this manner may be carried on from early May till late in October 
if the weather is favorable, different species making their appear¬ 
ance at different times. The variety thus to be collected is almost 
endless, and comprises moths from the minute micro-lepidoptera up to 
the giants of the race, six or seven inches in expanse of wings. One 
soon learns to recognize the different species by their modes of flight, 
as they bump their heads on the ceiling of the room in their strange 
bewilderment. When some much-prized moth enters, close the 
window, as I have known many a fine specimen to change his mind 
about adorning one’s cabinet with his precious body and fly out of 
the open window much faster than he came in. To lose a rare and 
beautiful moth is a keen disappointment to an enthusiastic collector, 
and such a mishap may often be avoided if this simple precaution be 
taken. 
One may sometimes make grand captures about electric lights, 
even in cities, by visiting them on warm summer evenings with the 
net and poison jar. Sphinx moths, which rarely come to a lamp, 
will often be seen flying in wide circles about the electric arc lights; 
they are then not very shy and may be easily taken. 
