MOTHS OF THE LIMBERLOST 



hotel I found an empty hominy can in which it soon began 

 spinning, but it seemed to be difficult to fasten the threads 

 to the tin, so a piece of board was cut and firmly wedged 

 inside. The caterpillar clung to this and in the darkness 

 of the can spun the largest and handsomest Luna winter 

 quarters of all my experience. You will find the study 

 at the close of this chapter. This cocoon differed in 

 every particular from any I ever found that were spun 

 under natural conditions. The outer wall was snow 

 white, thicker than is the rule, and rough with a thousand 

 upstanding filaments, as if it were frosted. 



Luna hunters can secure material from which to learn 

 this exquisite creature of night, by searching for the moths 

 on the trunks of oak, walnut, hickory, birch or willow, 

 during the month of June. The moths emerge on the 

 ground, and climb these trees to unfold and harden their 

 wings. The females usually remain where they are, and 

 the males are attracted to them. If undisturbed they 

 do not fly until after mating and egg depositing are ac- 

 complished. The males take wing as soon as dusk of the 

 first night arrives, after their wings are matured. They 

 usually find the females by ten o'clock or midnight, and 

 remain with them until morning. I have found mated 

 pairs as late as ten o'clock in the forenoon. 



The moths do not eat, and after the affairs of life are 

 accomplished, they remain in the densest shade they can 

 find for a few days, and fly at night, ending their life 



184 



