MOTHS OF THE LIMBERLOST 



the species to a greater or less extent. They are only 

 displayed at night. The conclusion is irresistibly forced 

 upon us that the eyes of these creatures are capable of 

 discriminating these colours in the darkness. We cannot 

 do it. No human eye in the blackness of the night can 

 distinguish red from orange or crimson from yellow. 

 The human eye is the greatest of all anatomical marvels, 

 and the most wonderful piece of animal mechanism in 

 the world, but not all of power is lodged within it. There 

 are other allied mechanisms which have the power of 

 responding to certain forms of radiant energy to a degree 

 which it does not possess. " 



This conclusion is not "irresistibly forced" upon me. 

 I do beHeve, know in fact, that all day-flying, feeding 

 moths have keener sight and longer range of vision than 

 non-feeders; but I do not beheve the differing branches 

 of the Catocalse group, or moths of any family, locate each 

 other "in the blackness of night," by seeing markings 

 distinctly. I can think of no proof that moths, butter- 

 flies or any insects recognize or appreciate colour. Male 

 moths mate with females of their kind distinctly different 

 from them in colour, and male butterflies pair with 

 albinos of their species, when these differ widely from 

 the usual colouring. 



A few moths are also provided with small simple eyes 

 called oceUi; these are placed on top of the head and are 

 so covered with down they cannot be distinguished save 



37 



