In painting this moth the colours
always should be copied from a living specimen as soon as it is dry.
No other moth of my acquaintance fades so rapidly.
Repeatedly I am asked which I think the most beautiful of these
big night moths. I do not know. All of them are indescribably
attractive. Whether a pale green moth with purple markings is
lovelier than a light yellow moth with heliotrope decorations;
or a tan and brown one with pink lines, is a difficult thing to
determine. When their descriptions are mastered, and the colour
combinations understood, I fancy each person will find the one
bearing most of his favourite colour the loveliest. It may be
that on account of its artistically cut and coloured trailers,
Luna has a touch of grace above any.
CHAPTER VII King of the Hollyhocks: Protoparce Celeus
Protoparce Celeus was the companion of Deilephila Lineata in the
country garden where I first studied Nature. Why I was taught that
Lineata was a bird, and Celeus a moth, it is difficult to understand,
for they appear very similar when poising before flowers.
Pages:
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146