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Stratton-Porter, Gene, 1863-1924

"Moths of the Limberlost"


Four days later, the egg-laying period over, the female, stupid and
almost gone, a fine male emerged, and the following day another.
I placed some of the sand from the bottom of the box on a
brush tray, and put these two cases on it, and set a focused camera
in readiness, so that I got a side view of a moth just as it
emerged, and one facing front when about ready to cling for wing
expansion. The history of their appearance, was similar to that
of the female, only they were smaller, and of much brighter.
colour. The next morning I wrote Professor Rowley of my regrets
at being unable to send the eggs as I had hoped.
At noon I came home from half a day in the fields, to find Raymond
sitting on the Cabin steps with a big box. That box contained a
perfect pair of mated Regalis moths. This was positively the last
appearance of the fairies.
Raymond had seen these moths clinging to the under side of a rail
while riding. He at once dismounted, coaxed them on a twig, and
covering them with his hat, he weighted the brim with stones.


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