The Collector at Work 
slug has left its home in the damp grass at the base ot 
this tree, and, with horns extended, is slowly moving 
- upwards, wondering, no doubt, in his dull way, how it 
comes to be raining honey, and if he will reach it in 
time to get a share. We visit tree after tree, going 
twice over the ground and selecting our specimens ; 
our boxes are now all filled, and what a night we have 
had! It is now well past midnight ; we have been too 
absorbed to notice the flight of time. But we walk 
four miles home light-heartedly, for our boxes are full. 
From early spring till late in the autumn, never 
neglect the rural street lamps; and if their light be 
incandescent or electric, so much the better: many 
moths will come to light, and play round a lamp, for 
whom “sugar” has no attractions. This is particularly 
noticeable with the Bombyces and Geometre. It is 
pretty certain that quite a number of these moths 
dine very sparingly, if ever. Where and how they 
obtain a repast is not known, but it is generally sup- 
posed that they have a sufficient store of reserve 
nutriment within themselves—a reserve stored during 
their caterpillar days—which is drawn upon and used up 
during their short existence as moths. Certainly they 
are born from the chrysalis plump and well nourished, 
and in a few days they die mere skin and feather. 
For capturing moths that are drawn to lamps it 1s 
necessary to have an extra long handle for the net. A 
handful of boxes and certain coins of the realm, bestowed 
upon the custodian who turns out the lights in the early 
~ “ao 
