Immediately the moth began racing around energetically, and flapping those tiny wings until the sound awakened the Deacon in the adjoining room.  After a few minutes of exercise, it seemed in danger of injuring the other cases, so it was transferred to the dresser, where it climbed to the lid of a trinket case, and clinging with the feet, the wings hanging, development began.  There was no noticeable change in the head and shoulders, save that the down grew fluffier as it dried.  The abdomen seemed to draw up, and became more compact.  No one can comprehend the story of the wings unless they have seen them develop.

At twelve o’clock and five minutes, they measured two-thirds of an inch from the base of the costa to the tip.  At twelve fifteen they were an inch and a quarter.  At half-past twelve they were two inches.  At twelve forty-five they were two and a half; and at one o’clock they were three inches.  At complete expansion this moth measured six and a half inches strong (sic!), and this full sweep was developed in one hour and ten minutes.  To see those large brilliantly-coloured wings droop, widen, and develop their markings, seemed little short of a miracle.

The history of the following days is painful.  I not only wanted a series of this moth as I wanted nothing else concerning the book, but with the riches of three fine pupa cases of it on hand, I had promised Professor Rowley eggs from which to obtain its history for himself.  I had taxed Mr. Rowley’s time and patience as an expert lepidopterist, to read my text, and examine my illustration; and I hoped in a small way to repay his kindness by sending him a box of fertile Regalis eggs.

The other pupa cases were healthful and lively, but the moths would not emerge.  I coaxed them in the warmth of closed palms—­I even laid them on dampened moss in the sun in the hope of softening the cases, and driving the moths out with the heat, but to no avail.  They would not come forth.

I had made my studies of the big moth, when she was fully developed; but to my despair, she was depositing worthless eggs over the inside of my screen door.

Four days later, the egg-laying period over, the female, stupid and almost gone, a fine male emerged, and the following day another.  I placed some of the sand from the bottom of the box on a brush tray, and put these two cases on it, and set a focused camera in readiness, so that I got a side view of a moth just as it emerged, and one facing front when about ready to cling for wing expansion.  The history of their appearance, was similar to that of the female, only they were smaller, and of much brighter. colour.  The next morning I wrote Professor Rowley of my regrets at being unable to send the eggs as I had hoped.

At noon I came home from half a day in the fields, to find Raymond sitting on the Cabin steps with a big box.  That box contained a perfect pair of mated Regalis moths.  This was positively the last appearance of the fairies.