1900] death's-head moth. . 88 



black waved or zigzagged lines or cross-bands, and in the middle of 

 each wing is a pale spot. 



The hiud wings are yellow or orange in colour, with two black or 

 very dark cross-bands, of which the one close to the extremity is 

 usually much wider than the other. The abdomen yellow, with six 

 black bands across, with a line of spots of blue or bluish grey down 

 the centre. 



From the great size of the moth and the peculiar marking, com 

 monly known as a "death's-head," in the middle of the back, it is 

 very easily recognizable ; but the amount of observation of the species 

 in this stage is very little in comparison with that during its cater- 

 pillar life. 



The figure at p. 82 shows the shape and characteristic markings, 

 but does not give a full idea (space not well allowing the figure of a 

 full-sized specimen) of this long thick grub at full growth. My figure 

 only gives the larva at about two and a half inches long, whilst that 

 in the Ray Society volume shows it at about four inches,* and it is 

 recorded as reaching as much as five inches in length. 



The colour is yellow, but towards the head and also the lower part 

 of the sides shading into green, with seven stripes slanting from the 

 lowest extremity backwards on each side. The colour of these may 

 be described as blue or lilac or violet, and at the lower part they are 

 bordered by a light or yellowish line. The head is horny, and 

 furnished with strong jaws. Tlie spiracles, or breathing pores, are 

 black edged with white. The grub is furnished (as figured) with three 

 pairs of claw-feet, four pairs of sucker-feet beneath the body, and 

 another pair beneath the last segment. Above this pair is a short 

 tail or horn-like process, which is of great service in identifying the 

 species of the caterpillar ; this is yellowish, rough or almost tubercled, 

 and bent down, but turned up again at the tip. 



The above-mentioned colouring is characteristic of the caterpillar ; 

 but there is a rare variety of which I have only seen a specimen 

 (figured on the plate referred to in note), which is of a brown or 

 brownish olive colour, with the side stripes darker, and the fore part 

 of the body whitish. 



"When full-fed the caterpillar turns to a lurid tint, and goes deep 

 down into the ground, eight inches or more, and there changes to the 

 pupal or chrysalis state, which varies in size, but may be generally 

 described as from about two inches and two-fifths in length to some- 

 what less than three inches ; the colour of a rich or dark brown, the 

 head and eyes rather projecting, the segments of the abdomen well 

 marked, and "the tail ends in a large thick flattish rough spike, with 



* ' Larvae of British Butterflies and Mftths,' vol. ii. plate xxi. 



g2 



