The Wilmington daily Republican., 1901-11-05
MOTH HUNTING BY NIGHT,
Quires More Than = Little
~ Courage.

Cambridges the only bit of wild"
fen left in England, has for ages past
been the happy hunting ground of the
entomclogist, and it is now the only
place where some OF the rarest insects
find az. English hxue, says Pearson's
Magazine.
Night work among the moths re-
1uites certain amount of courage in
the man who undertakes it alone for
though when sport is brisk the excite
ment tends to keep up ones spirits,
yet when no moths are flying the en-
tomologist, standing out in the dark
ness of the wide fen, is apt to feel the
loneliness of so vast and weird space.
A successful nights work entails
good deal of trouble. Toward sunset
the moth catcher will start for the
fen wheeling barrow heavily laden
with such articles as he may require.
These include stout wooden box, in
side which is carried big lamp, meas
uring about is inches high, 10 inches
wide and 10 inches deep; killing
bottle of cyanide and number of pill
boxes of various sizes: three s-foot
poles. Il white sheet some 10 feet long
by wide; a pot of molasses (called
sugar by the moth catcher), a Ian
tern, a moth trap and the indispensa-
Bile net.
He makes his way somewhat labori-
ously over the marshy ground, along
narrow paths, which he picks out az
though they had been clearly defined,
though to the stranger there would
appear to be nothing TO distinguish
them from the marshy soil on either
side. After walk of about Is min
utes he arrives at nice open space,
where the sedge has been cut.
Quickly fixing in the ground two Of
the long poles, the moth hunter
stretches out the big white sheet be-
tween them. Ten feet or so away he
fixes his lamp on the third pole, so
that the light will fall full on the
sheet. Conveniently near he arranges
number of the pill boxes, the lantern
and The killing" bottle, and hangs the
moth trap on an adjacent tree to take
its share of the nights spoil Thi'
moth trap. though regarded as of sea
ondary Importance, is very ingenious
contrivancc. so designed that when the
moths, attracted by a light inside, once
enter they cannot escape.
After the trap has been "set"a third |
snare for the moths is prepared, the
sinewy young branches of the low, sal
low shrubs which grow profusely here
abouts being twisted and tied toge ther
in knotty bunches, which are literally |
smeared with treacle. with dash of
rum in it. This sugar" is certainly
not very appetizing in appearance,
as potful is made to last
a considerable time. but it is quite
good enough for the moths. When it
is sufficiently dark for the moths TO
fly, the big lamp is lit, and its strong
light is thrown upon the sheet, so that
it is easy to see the smallest moth
that may come within range.
The moth catcher takes his stand,
net in hand, slightly behind the lamp,
ard in this position he is ready to rush
forward and take any moth which may
settle on the sheet or fly into the light.
ed space. Should It be a hot, dry night,
with heavy clouds banked over the
set sun, as often happens, particularly
in July, the moth catcher will have
very warm time Of it. The perspira.
ton will soon be streaming down his
back, his pipe will grow hot between
his teeth, and it will only bs kept there
to repel the attacks Of the flies and
gnats which will soon be singing and
buzzng in his eyes and ears.
On most nights the fun IS all over
by IL o'clock, but on good night it
will last until one or two o'clock. and
in the early part of July the moth
catcher will sometimes wait for the
sun, and then stalk about to catch a
beautiful little geometer called Hyria
aurorara, which Is itself the color of
he rising sun, and only flies from
.hrce to eight a. m.