THE LIFE OF A MOTH 



IF one manifestation of nature's ways can be more 

 marvellous than another the chief distinction must 

 be given to the transformations of the insect world* 

 The beautiful Promethea Moth emerging from a grey 

 silken cocoon that has been lying inert on the desk for 

 weeks cannot fail to appeal to the spirit of wonder* 

 A ripping, cutting sound is the first indication of 

 awakening life, as the knives with which the shoulders 

 of the coming insect are armed are used to make a 

 passage through the hard, tough covering* Soon 

 the head, with its feathery antennae, comes forth, 

 and the queer, misshapen, elongated insect vigorously 

 extricates itself from its shell* It misses the Lilac 

 bush, where, in its previous incarnation, it went to 

 sleep last fall* It runs eagerly about hunting for some 

 point of suspension, for without the aid of gravitation 

 those bulbs on its shoulders would never develop into 

 perfect wings* A book leaning against a shelf affords 

 the needed perch, and there the process of transforma- 

 tion goes on with strange celerity* The attenuated 

 body begins to enlarge and shorten and to take on its 

 normal texture and rich colours* One joint after 

 another from the thorax rounds out into shape* 



