When the serious business of life is over, attracted by
strong lights, they go with other pleasure seeking company, and
grace society by their royal presence.
I could have had half a dozen fine Imperialis moths during the
three nights of the carnival, and fluttering above buildings many
more could be seen that did not descend to our reach. Raymond had
such a busy time capturing moths he missed most of the joys of
the carnival, but I truly think he liked the chase better. One he
brought me, a female, was so especially large that I took her to
the Cabin to be measured, and found her to be six and three quarter
inches, and of the lightest yellow of any specimen I have seen.
Her wings were quite ragged. I imagined she had finished laying
her eggs, and was nearing the end of life, hence she was not so
brilliant as a newly emerged specimen. The moth proved this
theory correct by soon going out naturally.
Choice could be made in all that plethora, and a male and female of
most perfect colouring and markings were selected, for my studies of
a pair.
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