. The illustrated natural history [microform]. Natural history; Sciences naturelles. Wood near Oxford, t)8t <;orfj;ooiis of our I deep black, relieved ich, and a series of 'ing. It is usually i arc nettles, as the about the middle of ing to Acbeiou.). the Death's-head Moth. jount of the sphynx- ome species assume. lula), is particular 1}' the plants on which the fore part of its ted. When in this tisfied, that the gar- XATURAL nisTouy. 309 doner of Rosel, a famous naturalist, was quite disconcerted, atfirming that he never saw insects hold their heads so high. The Deatu'h-iieai) Moth is tli
. The illustrated natural history [microform]. Natural history; Sciences naturelles. Wood near Oxford, t)8t <;orfj;ooiis of our I deep black, relieved ich, and a series of 'ing. It is usually i arc nettles, as the about the middle of ing to Acbeiou.). the Death's-head Moth. jount of the sphynx- ome species assume. lula), is particular 1}' the plants on which the fore part of its ted. When in this tisfied, that the gar- XATURAL nisTouy. 309 doner of Rosel, a famous naturalist, was quite disconcerted, atfirming that he never saw insects hold their heads so high. The Deatu'h-iieai) Moth is tlic largest of the British Lepidoptera, as it not unfrcquently measures nearly six inches across the wings. Its rather ominous name is derived from the singular marking in the tliorax. which does not require much imagination to represent a skull an<l eross- bones. Some naturalists have asserted that this moth makes its way into beo-hives, and robs the inhabitants of their honey, disarming their resentment by a curious squeaking noise which it has the power of producing. The uneducated nistics have a great hoiTor of this insect, and consider its appearance as a most disastrous omen. In a small village removed fi'om the influence of railway's, on one Sunday morning, as the inhabitants were going through the churchyard, a Death's-head Moth appeared on the path. Every one recoiled in dismay, and no one dared approach the dreaded object. Srndry heads wore shaken iit the evil omen, and various prophetic remarks made. At last, the blacksmith summoned up courage, and with a great jump, came down on the unfortunate moth, and happily destroyed it.* The people were in blissful ignorance that as there were several fields near planted with potatoes, on which vegetable the caterpillar generally feeds, there were probably a few hundred of Death's-head Moths in the vicinity. In common with many other nocturnal insects, the eyes of tlie Death's-head Moth shine at night like two stars, which ad
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