MOTHS OF THE LIMBERLOST 



tugging moth working to enter the world, and when its 

 head was out, I was up and ready with note book and 

 camera. Day helped the matter but shghtly, for any 

 moth emerging in the night had to be provided a loca- 

 tion, and pictured before ten o'clock or it was not safe to 

 take it outside. Then I had literally "to fly," to develop 

 the plate, make my print and secure exact colour repro- 

 duction while the moth was fresh. If these paintings 

 appear brighter to you than any others you ever have 

 seen, remember this; and also compare the positions in 

 which these moths are reproduced with your favourite 

 work on this subject. If a moth shows no feet, its 

 antennae always stand stiffly forward, its abdomen is 

 shrunken and shrivelled, and its wings are raised above 

 a straight line crossing the top of the thorax level with 

 the wing bases, by these signs you will know it is a dried, 

 faded subject from a museum or private collection, and 

 that its colours are as untrue to life as its position and form. 

 For this is a point to remember in photographing a 

 moth. A free living moth never raises its wings higher 

 than a straight line from the bases crossing the top of the 

 thorax. It requires expert and adept coaxing to get them 

 horizontal with their bases. If you do, you show all 

 markings required; and preserve natural values, quite 

 the most important things to be considered. Since 1904 

 I have been collecting subjects, reproducing them in half- 

 tone and colour, and gathering data for this book. 



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