I asked him whether he wanted money or a picture of it, and as I
expected, he said `money,' so he was paid. An hour later he came
back and said he wanted the picture. On being questioned as to his
change of heart, he said "mamma told him to say he wanted the
picture, and she would give him the money." My sympathy was with
her. I wanted the studies I intended to make of that Cecropia
myself, and I wanted them very badly.
I opened the box to examine the moth, and found it so numb with the
cold over night, and so worn and helpless, that it could not cling
to a leaf or twig. I tried repeatedly, and fearing that it had
been subjected to rough treatment, and soon would be lifeless, for
these moths live only a short time, I hastily set up a camera
focusing on a branch. Then I tried posing my specimen. Until
the third time it fell, but the fourth it clung, and crept down a
twig, settling at last in a position that far, surpassed any
posing that I could do. I was very pleased, and yet it made a
complication.
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