The Collector at Work 
down, and among other favoured flowers mention may 
be made of Thistles, Wood-Sage, Bramble, Hedge- 
Woundwort, Honeysuckle, Heather, and all species of 
the Campion family. | 
It will be observed that moths in feeding at flowers 
do not rest on the bloom; neither do their wings cease 
vibrating during the operation. ‘They steady themselves 
for an instant in front of the flowers by means of their 
fore-legs, and at the same time the proboscis, or 
tongue, is thrust into the nectaries. Being always on 
the wing, the moths lose no time in going from flower 
to flower. But this peculiarity renders their capture at 
times rather difficult. In netting insects at bloom, it is 
necessary to advance slowly, almost stealthily, and avoid 
jerky movements. Of course, in a garden one must not 
destroy the flowers by slashing at them with a net, nor 
is there any need for damaging a single bloom. Take 
a typical case, We are watching a clump of “Turn- 
Cap” Lilies, and a moth suddenly appears under a bell, 
The flight was so swift that we could not see from 
whence the insect came, but there it is; it might be 
taken with an upward stroke of the net, but we should 
also net half a dozen blooms, and very likely break the 
spike. The proper way to take the moth is to advance 
your net slowly and low down, holding its tail between 
the finger and thumb of the left hand, until you have 
the net right or almost under the insect. Now tip the 
spike away from the moth by a rapid side-tap, and at 
the same time make an upward stroke with the net. 
The insect is for an instant in mid-air, and after your 
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