Insect Study. 



735 



The pupa. — This is almost globular in shape and shows the antennae 

 aticl the wing pads very plainly. 



Polyphemus cocoon. 



The motli. — When the moth breaks open the pupa skin, it finds no 

 valve or opening as does the cecropia and promethea. However, it mas- 

 ters the situation and gets out of its compact case by wetting the cocoon 

 with an acid liquid, wliicli it secretes in its mouth for the purpose, and 

 then pushes its way out between the threads. It can be readily distin- 

 guished from all the other moths, as it has what the children call " a 

 window pane " in the 

 middle of each wing. 

 This transparent spot 

 consists of thin mem- 

 brane ; in the hind 

 wing it is the " eye " 

 of the large, decora- 

 tive eye-spot. 



THE LUNA (Tropa'a 

 Inna) 

 Of all die beauti- 

 ful silk-worm moths 

 the luna is far the 



most graceful in Polyphemus cocoon cut open shoieiu^ the papa. The 

 form and the most iving-cases and antenna shoiv plainly. 



exquisite in color. It may be seen flying about clcclric lights during May 

 and June, and has been likened to a " great, white ghost of a bird appear- 

 ing for a moment then vanishing in the darkness." 



Food plants. — Hickory, birch, oak, butternut, walnut and oUiers. 



