2 40 TRUE TALES OF THE INSECTS. 



but with one or two notable exceptions, of the south or 

 south-eastern counties, where it is claimed to be observed 

 almost every year, the records show its appearance to 

 be uncertain. Roughly speaking, between 1865 and 

 1885 there was a period of a few years' duration when 

 the species was common, followed by a long interval of 

 scarcity ; then the moth was common for two years in 

 succession ; after which, for a protracted time, in alter- 

 nate years, it was generally scarce or locally common, 

 followed again by an abnormal appearance and wide 

 distribution. No doubt our entomolo""ical records are 

 less full and complete than they might be, but from the 

 observations we have, it is quite clear that the species is 

 not of annual occurrence, but decidedly rare, or novel, to 

 many localities. All the facts point to the Death's Head 

 Moth being rather a wanderer in, than a denizen of, 

 the greater portion of Britain, and that those which occur 

 outside the one or two counties in which they may be 

 said to be constant, are either migrants, or the offspring 

 of migrants. May we not therefore believe that the 

 rare specimens taken in the Orkneys, Shetlands, and 

 such outlying portions of the kingdom, are visitors from 

 the mainland (or the issue of these), who, in this case, 

 obviously, have extended their rambles far from the 

 place of their birth ? Conceding nomadic proclivities to 

 the moth, permits of us likewise easily accounting for 

 its excessive abundance in certain years (otherwise a 



