This interesting and lively moth is so frequent a visitor of our 

 gardens, that every one who takes pleasure in the cultivation 

 of flowers must have been attracted by its remarkable habits. 

 When meditating on the beauty of a flower, how often have I 

 been surprised by the appearance of this fairy moth, which 

 came as it were by magic, in an instant, and whilst poised on 

 its vibrating wings, introduced its long spiral tongue to the 

 base of the corolla to extract the nectar concealed there ! it 

 has then vanished with the same swiftness that it came. The 

 vibration of the wings causes a slight humming sound, which 

 has not only furnished its trivial name, but has led to an er- 

 roneous opinion that " Humming-birds " inhabit this island ; 

 and 1 have met with persons of education, who had been pro- 

 bably long absent from this country, who could scarcely be 

 convinced that the little animal they had seen hovering over 

 their flowers was not actually a Humming-bird, like those 

 they had seen in America and the West Indies. 



Mr. Dale has recorded the appearance of this moth, which 

 extends from the 26th of April to the 13th of October; but I 

 think it is most abundant in July and September, and although 

 there may be three annual broods, there is no doubt a more or 

 less regular succession of this insect during the summer, par- 

 tially influenced by the state of the weather. 



M. Stellatarum is particularly attached to the sea-side, in 

 consequence of the abundance of food which grows there for 

 the caterpillars. I think the greatest number I ever saw was at 

 Dover, where scarcely a plant in flower had less than three or 

 four hovering round it. The moths fly in the morning be- 

 tween 10 and 12, and again between 2 and 4 o'clock in the 

 afternoon according to Mr. Haworth's observations. They 

 delight exceedingly in fine weather, yet I have seen them in 

 very showery days, and by the shattered state of their wings, 

 it is evident that they are often much exposed to the weather ; 

 it may also be presumed that they live longer than most insects 

 in their perfect state, and this opinion is strengthened by Mr. 

 Haworth having found a specimen at Christmas. The Larva 

 feeds upon Galium verum (pi. 317), and aj^erine and Rubia 

 tinctonmi or -peregrina (pi. 327), and is found principally in 

 March, June, and August. 



I am indebted to B. Kennedy, Esq., L. Sidivan, Esq., and 

 the Hon. and Rev. C. A. Harris for the beautiful Touch-me- 

 not, Impaticns fulva^ which grows spontaneously and in great 

 abundance on the banks of the river by Shalford Mill, near 

 Guildford. 



