MOTHS OF THE LIMBERLOST 



red at the bottom. Tlie clay colour of the border was 

 a shade deeper than on the fore-wings, the touches on 

 it of red, and the waving line such deep red as to seem 

 almost black. The under sides of the wings were marked 

 and coloured similar to the upper, save that the red wine 

 was more in evidence and silvery, pinkish white covered 

 more space. All markings were a trifle stronger colour, 

 so that the moth became most beautiful with hfted 

 wings. Her thorax was covered with long red- wine 

 hairs, also the top of abdomen. Her face was Kke the 

 male's, with the exception of being redder, her side bands 

 wider white, and the dots on them almost black. The 

 rings of the pale red-wine abdomen were outlined with 

 white on the under side and the feet red. 



I have followed these markings and copied them faith- 

 fully as I could in the painting; but my best eflfort appears 

 feeble compared with the deUcate shadings and flushings 

 of the moth; and if the engravers fail me in exact colour^ 

 ing, I shall regret that I tried to reproduce them at all. 

 Allowing for the worst that could happen, the work is 

 sure to be close enough a copy that it can be used for 

 identification. It is too much to expect that paper and 

 ink can do the velvety, intangible red effects justice. 



Even the eggs of this mated pair carried a pinkish 

 white shade and were stained with brown. They were 

 ovoid in shape and dotted the screen door in rows. The 

 tiny caterpillars were out eleven days later and proved 



329 



