New-York tribune., 1901-09-22
MOTH HUNTING By NIGHT.
From Pearson's Magazine.

The glorious Wcken sedge fen in Cambridge
shire the only bit Of wild" fen left in England,
has for ages past been the happy hunting ground
of the entomoiogst, and II Is now the only place
where some of the rarest insects find an English
home.
Night work among the moths requires a GER
tain amount of courage in the man who under
takes II alone for though when sport is brisk
the excitement tends 10 keep up ones spirits
yet when no moths are flying the entomologist
standing out in the darkness OF the wide fen, is
apt to feel the loneliness of 30 vast and weird
space
A successful nights work entails good deal
Of trouble Toward sunset the moth catcher
will start for the fen wheeling a barrow heavily
laden with such articles as he may require.
These include stout wooden box, inside which
is carried big lamp, measuring about Is inches
high, II inches wide and 10 inches Deep kill
ing" bottle of cyanide and a number of pill
boxes OF various sizes; three S-foot poles, a
white sheet some 10 feet long by D feet wide;
pot of molasses (caed sugar by the moth
catcher, lantern. moth trap and the indis-
pensable net
He makes his way somewhat laboriously over
the marshy ground. along narrow paths which
he picks out though they had been clearly
defined. though TO the stranger there would APP
pear to be nothing to distinguish them from the
marshy soil either side. After a walk of
about fifteen minutes 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 between 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 Doltle, anO hangs
the moth trap adjacent tree to take its
share Of the nights spoil. This moth trap,
though regarded of secondary Importance is
a very ingenious contrivance, designed that
when the moths attracted by a light inside.
once enter they cannot escape.
After the trap has been set third snare for
the moths is prepared. the sinewy young
branches of the low. saow shrubs which grow
profusely hereabouts being twisted and tied to-
gether in knotty punches, which literally
smeared with treacle, with a dash OF rum in
it, This sugar Is certainly not very appetiz-
ing in appearance, especially as a potful Is
made TO last considerable time, but IL is quite
good enough for the moths When it is suffi
ciently dark for the moths to fly, the big lamp
is lit and its strong light is thrown upon the
sheet 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. and In this position he
is ready to rush forward and take any moth
which may settle on the sheet fly into the
lighted space. Should it be 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 Ii. The
perspiration will be streaming down his
back his pipe will grow hot between his teeth,
and il viii only be kept there to repel the at
tacks OF the files and gnats which viii soon be
singing and buzzing in his eyes and ears.
on most nights the fun is all over by u
. O'clock and in the early part of July the moth
| catcher will sometimes wait for the sun, and
| then stalk about to catch beautiful little
Geometer called Hyria auroraria. which Is Itself
! the color of the rising sun, and on1v dies from
10 y a. m.