MOTHS OF THE LIMBERLOST 



the question is yet unsettled, but I know a Japanese 

 who is coming to the Cabin some day for the express 

 purpose of telHng me surely. 



Every few days I examined those cocoons and tested 

 them by weight. I was sure they were perfect. That 

 spring I had been working all day and often at night, 

 so I welcomed an opportunity to spend a few days at a 

 lake where I would meet many friends; boating and 

 fishing were fine, while the surrounding country was one 

 uninterrupted panorama of exquisite land and water 

 pictures. I packed and started so hastily I forgot my 

 precious cocoons. I had such a good time I never 

 thought of them while away. Tw^o weeks later on my 

 return, before I entered the Cabin, I walked around it to 

 see if my flowers had been properly w^atered and tended. 

 It was not later than three in the afternoon but I saw 

 at least a dozen wonderful big moths, dusky and luring, 

 fluttering eagerly over the wild roses covering a south 

 window of the Deacon's room adjoining mine on the 

 west. Instantly I knew what that meant. I hurried 

 to the room and found a female Promethea at the top 

 of the screen covering a window that the caretaker had 

 slightly lowered. I caught up a net and ran to bring a 

 stepladder. The back foundation is several feet high 

 and that threw the tops of the windows close under the 

 eaves. I mounted to the last step and balancing, made a 

 sweep to capture a moth. They could see me and scat- 



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