108 PEARLS AND PEBBLES. 



opening and closing its wings as if for flight, but 

 remained for hours on the leaf of a scarlet geranium 

 near the window, giving me a good opportunity of 

 noting its beauty. Especially did I admire the rich 

 coloring and markings on the wide wings, which were 

 about six inches in extent and elegantly rounded and 

 lobed. 



The general color or ground-work was a rich dark red 

 brown, with two large irregular white circular figures ; 

 within the larger circle was another figure semi-circular 

 in form and of several shaded colors. The lower pair of 

 wings were adorned in the same way, the edges being 

 more scalloped and smaller than those of the upper 

 wings, and beautifully marked and fringed with a 

 bordering of white, red and grey. 



The body of the moth was short and thick, barred 

 with white, and having deep red spots between the lines. 

 The outer surface of the back, seen between the open 

 wings, was deep red. The legs were clothed with a 

 velvety red down. 



As soon as the lamp was lighted, the moth spread its 

 wings and, bat-like, flew to the light, and would have 

 been seriously injured had we not come to the rescue — 

 not, however, before the feathery margin of the wings 

 was somewhat scorched. Taken out of the room it flew 

 about, casting a dark bat-like shadow on the ceiling. 

 For some days it hid itself among the window curtains, 

 coming out of this retreat only at night, and for the 



