192 EVENINGS AT THE MICROSCOPE 



workmanship bestowed upon them. Each of the lateral 

 branches is a straight rod, thick at its origin, whence it 

 tapers to a little beyond its middle, and then thickens 

 again to its tip. Here two horny spines project from it 

 obliquely, one much stouter than the other, at such an 

 angle as nearly to touch the tip of the succeeding branch. 

 Besides this, each branch is surrounded throughout its 

 length with a series of short stiff bristles, very close-set, 

 projecting horizontally (to the plane of the axis of the 



PORTION OF ANTENNA OP OAK EGGER MOTH. 



branch), and bent upward at the end candelabrum- fashion. 

 The mode in which they are arranged is in a short spiral, 

 which makes about forty-five whorls or turns about the 

 axis; at least in the branches which are situated about 

 the middle of the antenna; for these diminish in length 

 toward the extremity, bringing the feather to a rather 

 abrupt point. 



The entire surface of the branch gleams under reflected 

 light with metallic hues, chiefly yellows and bronzy greens; 

 which appear to depend on very minute and closely -applied 



