The Life of the Caterpillar 



whom I at once seclude under a wire-gauze 

 bell in my study. I open the window to allow 

 the event to be made known all over the dis- 

 trict; I want the visitors, if any come, to find 

 free entrance. The captive grips the wires 

 and does not move for a week. 



A gorgeous creature is my prisoner, in he-- 

 brow^ velvet streaked with wavy lines. She 

 has white fur around her neck; a speck of car- 

 mine at the tip of the upper wings; and four 

 large, eye-shaped spots, in which black, white, 

 red and yellow-ochre are grouped in concen- 

 tric crescents. The dress is very like that of 

 the Great Peacock, but less dark in colouring. 

 I have seen this Moth, so remarkable for size 

 and costume, three or four times in my life. 

 It was only the other day that I first saw the 

 cocoon. The male I have never seen. I only- 

 know that, according to the books, he is half 

 the size of the female and of a brighter and 

 more florid colour, with orange-yellow on the 

 lower wings. 



Will he come, the unknown spark, the 

 plume-wearer on whom I have never set eyes, 

 so rare does he appear to be in my part of the 

 country? In his distant hedges wJll he receive 

 news of the bride that awaits him on my study 



274 



