MOTHS OF THE LIMBERLOST 



the wing, was the same purplish pink of the front under 

 wing, only much stronger. Near the abdomen, a Uttle 

 below half the length, and adjoining the gray, each wing 

 had a mark difficult to describe in shape, and of rich blue 

 colour. 



The antennae stood up stoutly, and were of dove gray 

 on one side, and white on the other. The thorax, legs, 

 and under side of the abdomen were more of the mouse 

 gray in colour. Over the whole moth in strong light, 

 there was an almost intangible flushing of palest purplish 

 pink. It may have shaded through the fore-wing from 

 beneath, and over the back wing from above. At any 

 rate, it was there, and so lovely and delicate was the 

 whole colour scheme, it made me feel that I would give 

 much to see a newly emerged male of this species. In 

 my childhood my mother called this colour aniline red. 



I once asked a Chicago importer if he believed that 

 Oriental rug weavers sometimes use these big night 

 moths as colour guides in their weaving. He said he 

 had heard this, and gave me the freedom of his rarest 

 rugs. Of course the designs woven into these rugs have 

 a history, and a meaning for those who understand. 

 There were three, almost priceless, one of which I am 

 quite sure copied its grays, terra cotta, and black shades 

 from Cecropia. 



There was another, a rug of pure silk, that never 

 could have touched a floor, or been trusted outside a case, 



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