190 



EVENINGS AT THE MICROSCOPE. 



or axis, — is somewhat sparsely clothed witli scales of 

 another kind, thin, oblong, flat plates, notched at the 

 end, and very sliglitly attached by means of a minute 

 stem at the base, — the common clotliing-scales of the 

 Lepidoptera^ — specimens of which "we have before ex- 

 amined. 



AYe may acquire some glimpse of a notion why this 

 remarkable development of antennae is betowcd upon 

 the male sex of this moth, by an acquaintance with its 

 habits. It has been long a practice with entomologists, 

 when they have reared a female motli from the chry- 

 salis, to avail themselves of the instincts of the species 

 to capture the male. This sex has an extraordinary 

 power of discovering the female at immense distances, 

 and though perfectly concealed ; and will crowd to- 



POETION OF AXTEXNA. OF OAK EGGF.R MOTIL 



wards her from all quarters, entering into houses, beat- 

 ing at windows, and even descending chimneys, to 

 come at the dear object of their solicitude. Collectors 

 call this mode of procuring the male " sembling," that 



