20 LEPIDOPTERA. 



induced to produce the sound under water. But it has been 

 satisfactorily proved that the inipa has the power of producing 

 the same sound, and it is difficult to understand how either 

 of the suggested methods could operate in the case of the 

 pupa. Strange to say, the larva has also a power of pro- 

 ducing sound, which however is of a totally different quality, 

 being a curious grating or crackling noise, which appears to 

 result from a lateral action of the maxillas or jaws over one 

 another, whereby one jaw passes over some minute pro- 

 minences on the other, as though the larva might be grating 

 its teeth. 



The moth is said to be seen, very rarely, hovering at flowers, 

 but I know of no case in which it has been captured while so 

 occupied, and as its sucking tongue is short, I am doubtful 

 of this habit. It is strongly attracted by honey, but prefers 

 to take it in larger quantities than flowers supply, and 

 is Avell known to enter beehives for this purpose. It has 

 even been caught while hovering about the hives, and 

 instances are well known in which it has been securely 

 fastened down inside the hi\^e, and completely covered with 

 wax by the indignant bees. This, however, is a rare circum- 

 stance, and possibly onl}^ occurs when the moth has happened 

 to die within the hive ; indeed this could not well occur to a 

 living moth, unless it were completely stupefied by greedy 

 feeding on the honey ; and as the stridulous voice of the 

 moth has been observed to arrest and control bees in a 

 manner similar to that produced by the voice of their queen, 

 the former conjecture seems the more probable. It is not 

 surprising that an insect with so many startling peculiarities, 

 should be an object of alarm to the ignorant and superstitious, 

 and it is on record that in eastern Europe, where it is 

 extremely plentiful — so nuTch so, indeed, as in some years to 

 fly into houses and extinguish the lights — it is regarded 

 with the greatest terror, and looked upon as the harbinger of 

 disease and death. Asa moth, it is excessively sluggish, 

 and can hardly be induced in the daytime, even by squeezing 



