166 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 
tened to any tree or post by nailing. The whole apparatus weighed 
but a few pounds. For transportation the lantern was removable 
from the arm, and the leader rolled up about it. 
The trap consisted of a truncated cone of light-weight tin [7f], 
cut to fit inside the rim of the reflector of the lantern, and having 
three hooks for attachment that snapped on over the outward 
projection of the rim. Within the tin cone was another shorter 
‘and more truncated cone of celluloid [g], having the hole at its 
apex large enough to admit the largest of the insects desired to 
be captured. The two cones were of almost equal diameter at 
base, where they were fastened together by means of ordinary 
wire paper clips. No cyanide cup was provided, none being 
necessary; it was quite sufficient to place the cyanide well 
wrapped in absorbent paper in the space between the cones on 
the lower side, as shown at /) in the figure. 
The leader [c], hung out in front in the axis of the cone of light, 
is of advantage on two accounts: 1 It vastly increases the area 
of lighted surface, and this, as is well known, rather than the 
intensity of the light, determines the alluring power of the trap. 
2 The leader serves as a convenient alighting place in front of the 
trap. And most of those that are trapped alight first upon the 
leader, and then jump directly into the celluloid cone and pass 
through the hole in its center, into the cyanide chamber. More- 
over, swift-flying insects, which would sweep by a small trap and 
might not return again to it, are likely to be arrested by the leader. 
The leader we made of thin white muslin. 
The weight shown at 7 in the figure, and the cord [7] extend- 
ing back therefrom to the edge of the trap, are merely intended 
to keep the leader properly hung, and are not necessary except 
when a breeze is blowing or when the cloth is crumpled. 
Given proper conditions ‘of darkness and warmth, this trap lan- 
tern works excellently. Most photophilous insects alight upon the 
leader and pass directly from it into the trap where in a few 
seconds the cyanide fumes! quiet them. They accumulate in a 
layer on the lower side. This lantern is waterproof. 
Let no one imagine that even the best trap lantern possible will 
make a good catch every night. The collector who has sugared 
for moths, or the teacher who has picked up laboratory material — 
1JIt should be more generally known that boracic acid crystals mixed with 
pulverized cyanide of potassium, cause an accelerated .evolution of cyanide 
fumes, resulting in the killing of the captives more quickly and the preserva- 
tion of the entire catch in better condition, 
