I polished the lenses, focused anew on the tree, marked the limits of exposure, inserted a plate, and had everything ready.  Then I brought out the female, Molly-Cotton walking beside me hovering her with a net.  The moth climbed from the twig to the tree, and clung there, her wings spread flat, at times setting them quivering in a fluttering motion, or raising them.  While Molly-Cotton guarded her I returned for the male, and found him with wings so hardened that could raise them above his back, and lower them full width.

I wanted my study to dignify the term, so I planned it to show the under wings of one moth, the upper of the other.  Then the smaller antennae and large abdomen of the female were of interest.  I also thought it would be best to secure the male with wings widespread if possible, because his colour was stronger, his markings more pronounced.  So I helped the female on a small branch facing the trunk of the tree, and she rested with raised wings as I fervently hoped she would.  The male I placed on the trunk, and with wide wings he immediately started toward the female, while she advanced in his direction.  This showed his large antennae and all markings and points especially note worthy; being good composition as well, for it centred interest; but there was one objection.  It gave the male the conspicuous place and made him appear the larger because of his nearness to the lens and his wing spread; while as a matter of fact, the female had almost an inch more sweep than he, and was bigger at every point save the antennae.

The light was full and strong, the lens the best money could buy, the plate seven by nine inches.  By this time long practice had made me rather expert in using my cameras.  When the advancing pair were fully inside my circle of focus, I made the first exposure.  Then I told Molly-Cotton to keep them as nearly as possible where they were, while I took one breathless peep at the ground glass.

Talk about exciting work!  No better focus could be had on them, so I shoved in another plate with all speed, and made a second exposure, which was no better than the first.  Had there been time, I would have made a third to be sure, for plates are no object when a study is at all worth while.  As a rule each succeeding effort enables you to make some small change for the better, and you must figure on always having enough to lose one through a defective plate or ill luck in development, and yet end with a picture that will serve your purpose.

Then we closed the ventilators and released the moths in the conservatory.  The female I placed on a lemon tree in a shady spot, and the male at the extreme far side to see how soon he would find her.  We had supposed it would be dark, but they were well acquainted by dusk.  The next morning she was dotting eggs over the plants.

The other cocoons produced mostly female living moths, save one that was lost in emergence.  I tried to help when it was too late; but cutting open the cocoon afterward proved the moth defective.  The wings on one side were only about half size, and on the other little patches no larger than my thumb nail.  The body was shrunken and weakly.