Flower-Visiting Moths 
net passes on the flower-spike swings back into its 
place, without a bell disturbed, and the surprised victim 
is fluttering in the net. Sy 
In the spring, when the Sallows are in bloom, a rare 
feast is provided for all the insect world. What a 
harrying these fuzzy-looking flowers get! bees and 
other flies haunt them during every hour of sunshine, 
while moths positively swarm over them after dark. 
The bees sip their fill and go their way, invigorated no 
doubt by the first square meal of the season; but the 
moths, alack! the degenerate crew! they stay on and 
tipple, tipple, until they can no longer fly. Spread a 
white sheet or hold an inverted umbrella under a bush, 
and a shake brings down the whole helpless crowd, and 
they lie sprawling, an easy prey to the entomologist. 
Their stupor soon clears away. Occasionally autumn 
moths which have passed the winter in hibernation will 
be found at the Sallows; they are generally useful if 
eggs are wanted, but are hardly suitable as specimens 
for the cabinet. 
Later in the season the flowers of the Ragwort 
(Senecio ‘facobea) have great attractions for many moths ; 
especially is this the case among sand-hills on the coast, 
and it is curious to observe that this plant also has a 
distinctly narcotic effect on its insect visitors. Turning 
the lamp suddenly on to a large patch of Ragwort, many 
Noctue will be observed busily at work, and one by 
one, before you have time to examine a fraction of 
them they will loose their hold and roll down among 
the grass, where it is almost hopeless to look for them, 
23 
