The San Francisco call., 1910-02-20

veloped specimen goes into . cyanids
bottle and becomes . mummy on a
pin.
So II turns out that there Is money
In bugs. and lots OF it-for the right
kind. Professor Studebaker, an au-
thority on insects OF all kinds. made
a goodly fortune selling butterflies
alone. while DR.. Frank E. Blaisdell and
Dr. Edwin Van Dyke of this city have
collections OF rare beetles. literally
worth their weight in precious stones
rather than sold-they are SO light.
you know. Prof. Charles Fuchs Of the
University OF California is another
steady contributor to the beetle trade.
and numerous other members OF the
Pacific Coast chronological association
draw down tidy sums for their various
finds.
Sooner or later, according to Mr.. Cot
tie, 1t Is absolutely necessary for an
entomologist to specialize in some one
branch OF the insect industry. since
the whole range OF entomology Is too
vast for any one man to hope to cover
II in lifetime. Therefore Mr.. CottIe
long ago made his speciality the lepi-
doptera-though he Is not at all averse
to swapping up any odd specimen OF
any class that may creep across his
path. Entomologists, too. generally
work in couples or trios, or even in
crowds, since all OF them exchange
specimens In order TO complete their
collections.
Once find the food plant OF certain
species, states Mr.. cottle, and the rest
is easy. though time plays an inpor-
tant part in many a capture. Many
OF the lepidopera are staid little crea-
lures OF habit, with fixed hours for
flying, fixed hours for mating and
fixed hours for dying. A little too
early or a little too lase means no catch
at ALL The Hepialus sequoiolus, a
dainty little creature called the head
light moth, because the female carries
bit OF phosphorus on her back that
lights up as she spreads her wings.
flies promptly at 7:45 and stops dying
at sharp. as abruptly as IL some tiny
curfew had been rung In her hearing
After she and her train Of admirers
disappear completely until the same
hour the next evening. when the same
little headlight procession again
swings into view.
Many butterflies fly only at high
noon. others make quick short fights
promptly at D. m, and Immediately
take siestas with the regularity of
automatons. How the little crea-
lures tell time is a mystery yet un-
solved by the sayant. but Cottls
affirms that he would Just as
soon set his watch by moth
or butterfly as by the city chimes
Light attracts most varieties OF
moths, though some reveI in abb
solute darkness, fitting about from
flower to flower like tiny eIfish owls.
The study of the eccentricities and
habits of these little creatures OF the
air is as fascinating as il is profit
able. asserts Mr.. Cottle, and he thinks
that in trailing them hither and yon.
always out in the open, he has dis
covered veritable elixir of youth.
1T is the healthiest life in the
world" he declared enthusiastically.
and the greatest sport I know any
thing about l wonder that more peo-
pie do not take IL up. I can wager
that a fellow with tuberculosis would
be cured of his disease in a few
months IL he would follow my trail
over the hills"
And his looks do not belle his words.
He is the picture OF buoyant health.
with a spring to his gait and a force
to his fist that makes him quite in
dependent of his lilly, as he duti-
fully patrols his beat. day after day.
with his weather eye always peeled
for specimen bug.
This little side issue in bugs might
be called a hobby except that a hobby
is usually an extravaganza, while bug
chasing is diversion that pays.