The Nuptial Flight 105 
bred cecropias, from 1 to 4 days old, were liberated at 11 Pp. m., 
where the wind blew from them toward the females. To my 
suprise, one, four days old, came back at 12:37. 
Exp. 37. May 27. Wind, east; station, 1 mile east. In this 
test 19 wild males which had flown to the roof that morning, 
and 2 which had returned in a previous test, were liberated in 
an unfavorable wind at 11:05 p. m. Two returned the follow- 
ing dawn, one on the second and one on the third morning later. 
The first three were young, and the last one to return was old. 
Since this was a test to see if the males can fly to the females 
when the wind is not favorable to carry odors to them, we really 
should consider only those which came in the first night before 
the winds shifted. I do not want to juggle my evidence, but 
may it not be that mere chance might lead 2 out of 21, through 
aimless wanderings, into the path or region of the attraction? 
Exp. 38. May 27. Wind, east; station, 114 miles east. Ten 
young and 4 old wild males which had come in that morning, 
and 4 which had made two other flights, were taken out at 
11:10 p. m. for this long flight in an unfavorable wind. Just 
one returned, making the mile and a half in two hours. 
Exp. 39. During the dawn of May 28, 19 native cecropias 
flew in, of which 10 were old and 9 young. Were these morning 
Visitors fewer because the wild population was becoming de- 
Pleted, or because females other than ours existed and were 
diverting the attention of the wild males or perhaps our experi- 
mental moths as well? 
Exp. 40. May 28. Wind, southeast; station, 3 miles north- 
west. This daring experiment was tried with a large number 
of males of various histories, to see if it is possible for the — 
to return for a distance of three miles when the wind is in their 
favor, that is, blowing from the females toward them. There 
were 28 bred males one and two days old, 12 bred males which 
had made successful previous flights, 17 wild ones which had 
come in at dawn that morning, and 22 from the morning before, 
making a total of 79 moths. Only one returned, and that 
on the morning of June 1, so it seems to have come in by chance, 
although it is interesting to learn that they wander as far as 
three miles in their quest. I feel confident that these creatures 
are capable of returning that distance directly, instead of by 
