Near the
abdomen, a little below half the length, and adjoining the grey;
each wing had a mark difficult to describe in shape, and of rich
blue colour.
The antennae stood up stoutly, and were of dove grey on one side,
and white on the other. The thorax, legs, and under side of the
abdomen were more of the mouse grey in colour. Over the whole
moth in strong light, there was an almost intangible flushing of
palest purplish pink. It may have shaded through the fore-wing
from beneath, and over the back wing from above. At any rate,
it was there, and so lovely and delicate was the whole colour
scheme, it made me feel that I would give much to see a newly
emerged male of this species. In my childhood my mother called
this colour aniline red.
I once asked a Chicago importer if he believed that Oriental rug
weavers sometimes use these big night moths as colour guides in
their weaving. He said he had heard this, and gave me the freedom
of his rarest rugs. Of course the designs woven into these rugs
have a history, and a meaning for those who understand.
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