Then
he rode to the nearest farm-house for a box, and brought the pair
safely to me. Several beautiful studies of them were made, into
one of which I also introduced my last moth to emerge, in order
to show the males in two different positions.
The date was June tenth. The next day the female began egg
placing. A large box was lined with corrugated paper, so that she
could find easy footing, and after she had deposited many eggs on
this, fearing some element in it might not be healthful for them, I
substituted hickory leaves.
Then the happy time began. Soon there were heaps of pearly pale
yellow eggs piled in pyramids on the leaves, and I made a study of
them. Then I gently lifted a leaf, carried it outdoors and, in
full light, reproduced the female in the position in which she
deposited her eggs, even in the act of placing them. Of course,
Molly-Cotton stood beside with a net in one hand to guard, and an
umbrella in the other to shade the moth, except at the instant of
exposure; but she made no movement indicative of flight.
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