MOTHS OF THE LIMBERLOST 



containing most of these things, have gathered outdoor 

 cocoons by the peck, and microscopically examined doz- 

 ens of them, and with the exception of leaf, twig, bark, 

 or some other foundation against which it was spun, I 

 never have seen a cocoon with shred, filament, or particle 

 of anything used in its composition that was not drawn 

 from the spinning tube or internal organism of the cater- 

 pillar, with the possible exception of a few hairs from the 

 tubercles. I have been told by other workers that they 

 have had captive caterpillars use earth and excrement 

 in their cocoons. Study the ensuing illustrations closely 

 and you cart see for yourself what my experience has 

 been. 



This same work, in an article on protective colouration, 

 lays emphasis on the statement that among pupa cases 

 artificially fastened to different objects out of doors, 

 "the elimination was ninety-two per cent, on fences 

 where pupae were conspicuous, as against fifty-two per 

 cent, among nettles, where they were inconspicuous." 

 This statement is elaborated and commented upon as 

 making a strong point for colourative protection through 

 inconspicuousness. 



Personally, I think the nettles did the work, regardless 

 of colour. I have learned in much experience afield 

 that a patch of nettles or thistles afford splendid protec- 

 tion to any form of life that can survive them. I have 

 seen insects and nesting birds find a safety in their 



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