MOTHS OF THE LIMBERLOST 



tered in all directions. I waited until they were begin- 

 ning to return, when from the thicket of leaves emerged 

 a deep rose-flushed little moth that sailed away, with 

 every black one in pursuit. I almost fell from the ladder. 

 I went inside, only to learn that what I feared was true. 

 The wind had loosened the screen in my absence, and the 

 moth had passed through a crack, so narrow it seemed 

 impossible for it to escape. 



Only those interested as I was, and who have had 

 similar experience know how to sympathize. I had 

 thought a crowbar would be required to open one of 

 those screens! With sinking heart I hurried to my room. 

 Joy! There was yet hope! The escaped moth was the 

 only one that had emerged. The first thing was to fasten 

 the screen, the next to live with the remaining cocoons. 



The following morning another female appeared, and 

 a little later a male. As soon as their down was dry, 

 and before either had taken flight, the title page study 

 of this chapter was made while each clung to the cocoon 

 from which it emerged. They behaved beautifully, and 

 posed in almost any shape they were coaxed to assume 

 with the brushes. I was so happy I went singing through 

 the Cabin as I worked. 



The cocoons were long, slender, closely leaf-wrapped 

 and hung from stout spinning longer than the average 

 leaf stem. The outside leaf covering easily could be 

 peeled away as the spinning did not seem to adhere except 



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