MOTHS OF THE LIMBERLOST 



add the completing touch and most beautiful form of 

 life to a few exquisite May and June nights is their extra 

 good fortune, not any part of the affair of living. With 

 moths that feed and live after reproduction, mating 

 and egg placing conies first. In all cases the rule is 

 much the same. The moths emerge, dry their wings, 

 and reach full development the first day. In freedom, 

 the females being weighted with eggs seldom attempt to 

 fly. They remain where they are, thrust out the egg 

 placer from the last ring of the abdomen and wait. By 

 ten o'clock the males, in such numbers as to amaze a 

 watcher, find them and remain until almost morning. 

 Broad antennse, slenderer abdomen, and tlie claspers 

 used in holding the female in mating, smaller wings and 

 more brilliant markings are the signs by whicli the male 

 can be told in most cases. In several of the Attacine 

 group, notable Promethea, the male and female differ 

 widely in markings and colour. Among the other non- 

 feeders the difference is slight. The male Regalis has 

 the longest, most gracefully curved abdomen and the 

 most prominent claspers of any moth I ever examined; 

 but the antennae are so delicate and closely pressed against 

 the face most of the time as to be concealed until espec- 

 ially examined. I have noticed that among the moths 

 bearing large, outstanding antennae, the claspers are 

 less prominent than with those having small, inconspicu- 

 ous head parts. A fine pair of antenna^, carried for- 



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