MOTHS OF THE LIMBERLOST 



seen them in the moonhght of July and August at late 

 hours. 



The petunias in question grew beside a fence west of 

 the Cabin. There was only a very short time during 

 which the light would be strong; and rough boards for a 

 background. This did not suit my ideas for a superlative 

 lover of flowers. After due deliberation a petunia was 

 lifted, and set in a pot. Then it was placed on a small 

 sewing table, the camera set up and focused. 



Before I had finished three little pale yellow moths 

 were hovering over the blooms, and when next Lineata 

 came to the flower bed, it also visited my improvised 

 location. There was some wind, and the intruders were 

 difficult to drive away. They seemed to give a "stuck in" 

 appearance to the picture, although the Deacon stood 

 close and declared they should be left, as they were the 

 "finishing touch." 



All the "finishing touch" I wanted for this chapter was 

 a Lineata posed so that its markings showed, or hovering 

 in an accustomed attitude over a favorite flower. Four 

 plates were tried on it. One, on account of the wind, 

 was an indistinct blur, another was better, but not what 

 could be called a great success. For the last two of the 

 four, the wind dropped away, and the moth poised, or it 

 may have clung with its feet to the broad petals ; anyway, 

 it was artistically posed, and both moth and flowers were 

 photographed in two different positions. 



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