MOTHS OF THE LIMBERLOST 



pillar at maturity, one half transformed to the moth, 

 and three fine pupa cases. Besides, I had every reason to 

 hope that in the spring I could secure eggs and a likeness 

 of a female to complete my illustration. Call this luck, 

 fairy magic, what you will, I admit it sounds too good 

 to be true; but it is. 



All winter these three fine Regalis pupa cases were 

 watched solicitously, as well as my twin Cecropias, some 

 Polyphemus, and several ground cocoons so spun on limbs 

 and among debris that it was not easy to decide whether 

 they were Polyphemus or Luna. When spring came, 

 and the Cecropias emerged at the same time, I took 

 heart, for I admit I was praying for a pair of Regalis 

 moths from those pupa cases in order that a female, a 

 history of their emergence, and their eggs, might be 

 added to the completion of this chapter. In the begin- 

 ning it was my plan to use the caterpillars, and give the 

 entire history of one spinning, and one burrowing moth. 

 My Cecropia records were complete; I could add the twin 

 series for good measure for the cocoon moth; now if only 

 a pair would come from these pupa cases, I would have 

 what I wanted to compile the history of a ground moth. 



Until the emergence of the Cecropias, my cocoons and 

 pupa cases were kept on my dresser. Now I moved 

 the box to a chair beside my bed. That was a lucky 

 thought, for the first moth appeared at midnight, from 

 Mr. Idlewine's case. She pushed the wing shields away 



357 



