106 PEARLS AND PEBBLES. 



tinguishes this lovely moth from all others. It is very 

 rarely to be seen now, but seems to love the shade 

 among the orchard and forest trees. 



It is in the orchard that we find the cocoons of that 

 grand moth, the Attacus cecropia, a splendid insect, 

 both in size, form and rich colors ; as large, when its 

 wings are fully expanded, as some of our smaller birds, 

 measuring, indeed, nearly seven inches in width. 



The heavy thick body of this insect is red, but 

 marked by deep rings, and the surface clothed with soft 

 whitish hairs. The head is large and the antennae 

 strongly pectinated. 



The marks on the wings are in the form of half- 

 moons, showing a variety of shadings, with vivid blue 

 and some red in the centre. There are other lines and 

 wavy marks on the wings, besides a deep rich border 

 pattern. 



I am afraid my very unscientific mode of description 

 may offend the learned entomologist. If so, I crave 

 pardon and plead limited knowledge as my sufficient 

 excuse. 



The common name for this fine moth is the Apple-tree 

 or Orchard Moth, because its brown felted chrysalid cases 

 are found attached to the twigs of orchard trees. 



The first really hot days cause the imprisoned insect 

 to burst from its sealed coffin, and its wonderful and 

 mysterious resurrection to light and life is at once 

 effected. It flutters forth a glorious but short-lived 



