The English moths and butterflies

Provide yourself with a Net made of Muschetto Gause, and in Shape like a Bat-fowling Net; let its Length be one Ell, the Width at Bottom three Quarters of a Yard, at Top half a Yard, and cut circular; this must be sewed to a Tape or Ferret, that it may be fastened to a couple of Hasle or other Sticks five Feet long each, the upper Part whereof should be bent circular to fit your Net.

You must likewise have a Stick of Hasle, or any other Wood, about five or six Feet in Length, wherewith to put the Flies and Moths on the Wing, by beating the Boughs, Hedges, Shrubs, or other Growths you are near, so that you may be better able to see and take them.

Furnish yourself likewise with Boxes of such Sizes as will go into your Pocket, let them be lined at the Top and Bottom with Cork; be also provided with a Pin-cushion, well stock’d with different Sorts of Pins.

These Things being in readiness, go into the Woods and Fields thereto adjacent (always placing yourself where the Sun has most Power, and the Wind the least) also into Chalk-pits, rough Grounds, Lanes, &c. In all which Places, if it is a fine Day, and a proper Season of the Year, you’ll find Plenty of Sport.

When you have taken a Fly in your Net, lay the Net flat on the Ground, which will prevent the Fly from fluttering, then put the Fore Finger of your Left Hand under the Fly, and with the same Finger of your Right Hand give it a squeeze on the Back or Chest, and that will kill it; be careful, however, not to press too hard, least you damage the Fly. This done take a Pin and run it through the Body, betwixt the Wings, letting that Side be uppermost which is most beautiful; then stick it in your Box, and look for more Sport.

Having collected such a Number of Flies as you think proper, and being returned home, look into your Boxes, and observe which of them are fit to set: such as you find dead and not stiff are so.

Then (having prepared before-hand two or three Boards covered with Cork, of about ten Inches by sixteen in Size, or as you find most convenient to place your Flies in order on and extend their Wings in the best manner: by the Assistance of little Braces made by cutting a Card into Lengths or Slips, with a small Pin thrust through the End of each) proceed to manage them as follows:

Take a Fly out of your Box: see if the Pin be run through it perpendicularly: if so, stick it on one of your setting Boards, and with the Point of a Needle (which must be fixt into a small Stick, or what else you like best) extend one Wing leisurely, till such Time as the Point thereof is even with the Nose of the Fly you are setting. That done, fix one of your Card Braces gently on that Wing, to prevent its giving way; serve the other Wing in the same manner, and your Fly will appear extended as in the Paintings. Let the Braces remain on the Wings of Butterflies a Fortnight, on those of great Moths a Month. Take Notice, however, that a great Number of small Moths must be set in your Boxes in the Field, otherwise your labour will be lost; you’ll presently know which these are, by observing them to be dead and almost stiff; so that it is proper to carry always about you a little Box of Card Braces for this Purpose.

The Way to preserve your Flies, after you have taken them from your Setting Board.

If you put them in Drawers, Boxes, or Frames with Glasses before them, its proper to get some Camphire, which inclose in small Muslin Bags, and fasten it to those Places where your Flies are; by this Means you will destroy those Insects that would otherwise injure your Flies; and by renewing now and then this Method, I am convinced your Flies may be preserved several Years. The Months in England that produce the greatest Variety of Flies, are April, May, June, July, and August, especially of the Butterfly Kind; and for Moths, I am of Opinion, that there are many different Species produced all the Year round. The best Time to take the greatest Variety of Moths, is for one Hour after Sun-set, and the properest Places are in and by the Sides of Woods, Gardens, Green Lanes, &c. where with your Net you’l seldom fail of Sport. Thus much seemed necessary to say in Respect to taking Insects in the Fly State, and more would be superfluous.

But as it may be agreeable to some to breed the Flies themselves from the Caterpillars, I shall likewise give the best Instructions I am able for that Purpose.

In the Spring and Autumn Season you may collect great Variety of Caterpillars, by spreading a Sheet under Oak-Trees: then beating the Boughs, many Caterpillars will fall, which if taken Care of, will produce scarce and valuable Moths; you may also obtain by the same Means Caterpillars from the Black-Thorn, White-Thorn, Bramble, Chickweed, Willow, and many other Growths.

When you have collected a Number of Caterpillars, and remark’d the Food you found them on, put them into Boxes, which prepare as follows: Take a Deal or Wainscot Box, cut a large Square out of the Top and Bottom, cover the Place cut out with a Piece of Crape Hatband, glewing the same all round to prevent any Escape. This done, put your Caterpillars into the Box, with some of the same Food you found them on, giving them, if you can, fresh every Day. Here you’ll find them feed and thrive; and after changing their Skins (some five and some six Times) they will go into the Aurelia State, and there remain for a certain Time, some much longer than others; but in about fourteen Days from this last change you may look into your Boxes, to see if you have any Flies bred; remembring that out of such as are produced in this manner, much more perfect Flies may be chosen, than any that can be caught; and as several Sorts of Caterpillars go down into the Earth, and there change to Chrysalis, some Earth must be put into the Boxes for that Purpose, at least two or three Inches deep. Never take the Chrysalides out of the Earth, nor disturb them till the Flies are bred.

There is yet another Thing proper to be known, in order to compleat your Collection. A great Number of Caterpillars go into the Earth, and there change to Aureliæ, whose Moths are seldom upon the Wing till Night; these Aureliæ are to be got by digging with such a Trowel as the Bricklayers use, about the Roots of Trees, such as Oaks, Elms, Limes, Poplars, Willows, &c. also by the Sides of Walls and Pales. The usual Time to dig for them is from September to March.

When you have obtain’d a Number of Aureliæ by digging, you must provide for them thus: Get some Earth and scowering Sand, mix them well together, and put the Mixture into some large Garden Pots; lay your Aureliæ thereon, covering them with Moss; then sew a Piece of Crape Hatband round a small Hoop, and put such a Cover on each Pot, in order to receive the Flies when bred, which will usually be in the Months of March, April, May, and June. I have always kept my Pots of Aureliæ out in the open Air, and the Flies have been produced with great Success; however it may be proper to place a Piece of Board over each Pot, to prevent unforeseen Accidents.

Those who think proper to put these Directions in Practice, will, I am convinced, in a short Time, be possessed of a great Number of valuable Flies. What Food the Caterpillars mentioned in this Work chuse to feed on, the Time when they change into Aureliæ, and when they issue forth
in the Fly State, may be seen
in the Description of
each Plate.

ERRATA.