212 OUR SEARCH FOR A WILDERNESS. 



spots and patterns on the fore-wings to those on the thorax 

 and the result was in many instances surprising. For ex- 

 ample, when spread, the fore-wings of one tiny moth {Pro- 

 nola fraterna) showed two meaningless black spots forming 

 each one-third of a circle. When closed naturally, these 

 united with the black abdomen to form a perfect black circle 

 stamped upon a mat of velvety cream color. 



All words are inadecjuate to describe these exquisite crea- 

 tures; one with the lightning flash of gold across its cloudy 

 background; another, enscribed with Chinese hieroglyphics; 

 a third of lavender, yellow and russet mosaics set about large 

 transparent windows of opalescent blue.* One of the most 

 exquisite was a little moth {Chrysocestis fimhriaria) spread- 

 ing less than an inch, with wings of iridescent mother-of-pearl 

 rimmed with dull golden, on which was set a score of embossed 

 beads of the most brilliant gilt, flashing as no gem ever flashed. 



If one could spend a season here studying the motions alone 

 of these insects, it would well repay him. One moth, irides- 

 cent with a broad border of black (Eudioptis hyalinata), 

 curled the abdomen straight up into the air, and separated its 

 extremity into a wide-spread tuft of hairs. These radiated 

 like the tentacles of a sea anemone, and when the whole was 

 waved about, it looked like some strange crawling caterpillar, 

 holding its head high above the prostrate wings of the moth. 



The last evening, as if to make our departure still harder, 

 the insects increased in number. Walking sticks five and 

 six inches in length skimmed through the air, their bodies, 

 legs and wings dark in color and ornamented with irregular 

 scales and projections, until their resemblance to a jagged- 

 barked twig was perfection. If this species were represented 

 by thousands of individuals in its haunts, birds or four-footed 



* Both of these moths proved to be new to science, both as to species 

 and genus and have been named respectively Ilositca gynaecia and Znevius 

 calocore. Zoologica, Vol. i, No. 4. 



