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THE LIFE OF A MOTH 
If one manifestation of nature's ways can be more 
marvellous than another the chief distinction must 
be given to the transformations of the insect world* 
The beautiful Promethea Moth emerging from a grey 
silken cocoon that has been lying inert on the desk for 
weeks cannot fail to appeal to the spirit of wonder* 
A ripping, cutting sound is the first indication of 
awakening life, as the knives with which the shoulders 
of the coming insect are armed are used to make a 
passage through the hard, tough covering* Soon 
the head, with its feathery antennae, comes forth, 
and the queer, misshapen, elongated insect vigorously 
extricates itself from its shell* It misses the Lilac 
bush, where, in its previous incarnation, it went to 
sleep last fall* It runs eagerly about hunting for some 
point of suspension, for without the aid of gravitation 
those bulbs on its shoulders would never develop into 
perfect wings* A book leaning against a shelf affords 
the needed perch, and there the process of transforma- 
tion goes on with strange celerity* The attenuated 
body begins to enlarge and shorten and to take on its 
normal texture and rich colours* One joint after 
another from the thorax rounds out into shape* 
