120 POWER OP INSTINCT. 



about it, fluttering their wings, and striving to gain 

 admission. So entirely do they abandon themselves 

 to the captivity of love, that they do not fear the 

 risk of a bodily captivity, and will suffer themselves 

 to be taken by hand, without even an endeavour to 

 escape. 



Carry the imprisoned moth into the fields, and 

 even there the eager suitors will arrive from all 

 quarters, and boldly alight on the box while in the 

 hand of the entomologist. 



More wonderful must be the influence that can 

 emanate from so small a creature, and extend to so 

 great a distance — an influence which, although 

 entirely inappreciable by any human sense, exercises 

 so potent a sway on all sides, and to so great a 

 distance. 



The conditions, too, of this mysterious influence 

 are singularly delicate ; for after the moth has once 

 found her mate, she may be placed amid a crowd of 

 gentlemen, and not one will take the least notice of 

 her. 



Like the young beauty of the ball-room, who 

 whilom attracted to herself crowds of beaux, that 

 fluttered around her, and contended with each other 

 for a look or a smile of their temporary divinity, but 

 who finds herself deserted by the fickle crowd when 

 her election is made ; so our Lady Lasiocampa 

 Quercus, after setting all hearts ablaze for a time, 

 makes happy one favoured individual, is deserted by 



