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Stratton-Porter, Gene, 1863-1924

"Moths of the Limberlost"

It was differently
marked on the sides, and in every way larger, and brighter than
the others, and had not finished feeding. Knowing that it was
called the `horned hickory devil' at times, hickory and walnut
leaves were placed in its box, and it evinced a decided preference
for the hickory. As long as it ate and seemed a trifle larger it
was fed. The day it walked over fresh leaves and began the
preliminary travel, it was placed on some hickory sprouts around
an old stump, and exposures made on it, or rather on the places it
had been, for it was extremely restless and difficult to handle.
Two plates were spoiled for me by my subject walking out of focus
as I snapped, but twice it was caught broadside in good position.
While I was working with this caterpillar, there came one of my
clearest cases of things that `thrust themselves upon me.' I
would have preferred to concentrate all my attention on the
caterpillar, for it was worth while; but in the midst of my work
a katydid deliberately walked down the stump, and stopped squarely
before the lens to wash her face and make her toilet.


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