MOTHS OF THE LIMBERLOST 



I never have been able to induce a female to mate 

 after confinement had driven her to begin depositing 

 lier eggs, not even under the most favourable conditions 

 I coidd offer, although others record that they have 

 been so fortunate. Repeatedly I have experimented 

 ^vith males and females of different species, but with no 

 success. I have not seen a polygamous moth; but have 

 read of experiences with them. 



Sometimes the eggs have a smooth surface, again they 

 may be ridged or like hammered brass or silver. The 

 shells are very thin and break easily. At one side a 

 place can be detected where the fertilizing fluid enters. 

 The coming caterpillar begins to develop at once and 

 emerges in from six to thirty days, with the exception 

 of a few eggs placed in the fall that produce during the 

 following spring. The length of the egg period differs 

 with species and somewhat with the same moths, accord- 

 ing to suitable or unfavourable placing, and climatic 

 conditions. Do not accept the experience of any one 

 if you have eggs you very much desire to l)e produc- 

 tive of the caterpillars of rare moths; after six days 

 take a peep every day if you would ])e on the safe 

 side. With many species the shells are transparent, 

 and for the last few days before emergence the growth 

 of the little caterpillars can be watched through them. 



When matured they break or eat a hole in their shells 

 and emerge, seeming nuich too large for the space they 



55 



