"Please bring a piece of
pasteboard, the size of this brim.'
I held the hat while the Deacon brought the board. Then with
trembling care we slipped it under, and carefully carried the moth
into the conservatory. First we turned on the light, and made sure
that every ventilator was closed; then we released the Io for
the night. In the morning we found a female clinging to a shelf,
dotting it with little top-shaped eggs. I was delighted, for I
thought this meant the complete history of a beautiful moth. So
exquisite was the living, breathing creature, she put to shame the
form and colouring of the mounted specimens. No wonder I had not
cared for them!
Her fore-wings were a strong purplish brown in general effect, but
on close examination one found the purplish tinge a commingling of
every delicate tint of lavender and heliotrope imaginable. They were
crossed by escalloped bands of greyish white, and flecked with touches
of the same, seeming as if they had been placed with a brush. The
back wings were a strong yellow.
Pages:
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158