MOTHS OF THE LIMBERLOST 



that it had been painted from subjects mounted from 

 weeks to years in private collections or museums. A 

 lifeless moth fades rapidly under the most favourable 

 conditions. A moth at eight days of age, in the last 

 stages of decline, is from four to six distinct shades 

 lighter in colour than at six hours from the cocoon, when 

 it is dry and ready for flight. As soon as circulation 

 stops, and the life juices evaporate from the wings and 

 body, the colour grows many shades paler. If exposed 

 to light, moths soon fade almost beyond recognition. 

 In judging the exactitude of my work as a colourist, 

 please remember this fact: in nearly every case the moths 

 of these illustrations were photographed before they had 

 taken flight, and their colours copied as soon as the 

 down was dry and fluffy. Having done my work from 

 moths fresh as life, all other attempts at colour repro- 

 duction with which I am familiar, appear pale and 

 faded to me. Also, I must admit, that to show 

 nearly intangible lines, shadings and fluff ings, I pur- 

 posely have made all colour as strong as I dared to be 

 accurate. 



I make no claim to being an entomologist. I quite 

 agree with the "Autocrat of the Breakfast Table," that 

 *'the subject is too vast for any single human intelligence 

 to grasp." If my life depended upon it I could not give 

 the scientific name of every least organ and nerve of a 

 moth, and as for wrestling with the thousands of tiny 



10 



