Crinodes Beskei

Crinodes beskei

This very peculiar moth is the only representative of its genus which occurs within our territory. There are numerous species found in the tropics of the New World. The habitat of the present species is Arizona and Mexico.

NASU-NO TAKE

NASU-NO TAKE is a volcano in the interior of Japan. Tora-san came into my room on the upper floor of the tea-house where we had made our stay while exploring the summit of the mountain, which was in eruption at the time. Tora-san was my fidus Achates. He could make an insect-box or repair a jinrickisha, for he was "an honorable carpenter." He did not disdain, when necessity demanded, to prove himself a capable cook, though this was not his calling. He could provide a meal of "America-no Chow" or "Nippon-no Chow," the cuisine of Anglo-Saxon and of Japanese being alike familiar to him. He was best of all an enthusiastic entomologist, and much preferred sugaring for moths to making curries. "Danna-san," he said, "Nasu-no Take have got many moth Tokio no have got." "Yea, verily! good Tora-san." "Danna-san, me catchee moth ko komban sugar way. Danna-san go long?" "With all my heart! Sayo!" And so it was arranged.

In the oak-forest below the tea-house we sugared the trees. When the night came on we went with our lanterns to the spot. The black shadows clung to the woodland path. As the lanterns went bobbing along the narrow way, each turn produced a weird and beautiful effect. The gnarled old pines, the oaks and the bamboos, the wild yams festooning the shrubbery, thrust forth for a moment into relief against the universal darkness, were fascinating to look upon. Here and there white lilies held up their stately blossoms, and starry flowers, from which the moths fled a we came along, bloomed everywhere. The effect of moving lights in shrubbery and forest-growths is always charming.

But the captures of that night were more memorable than all the witchery of the strange and beautiful scenery in the midst of which we walked. The gems of our catch were a dozen perfect specimens of the great Snowy Underwing, the most beautiful as well as one of the rarest species of the splendid genus to which it belongs. I never pull out the drawer in the cabinet, where these things have rested full many a day since then, without seeing visions and dreaming dreams of the happy past. How much "globe-trotters" miss when they are not students of nature! The memory of one such night spent in the wild woods is worth the memory of weeks spent in palaces.

"The insect legions, prank'd with gaudiest hues,

Pearl, gold and purple, swarm'd into existence.

Minute and marvellous creations these.

some proudly shone

Like living jewels; some grotesque, uncouth,

And hideous

Those lived deliciously on honey-dews.

And dwelt in palaces of blossomed bells.

Millions on millions, wing'd and plumed in front,

Fill'd the dim atmosphere with hum and hurry.

MONTGOMERY.--Pelican Island.