EYED HAWK MOTH. 3 
When full-fed (as noted above by Mr. Ramsey) the caterpillar goes 
down into the ground. There it turns, in a little chamber about two 
inches below the surface, to a red-brown chrysalis, from which the 
moth comes out in the following summer. Thus, to quote the 
summary of life-history given by the Rev. John Hellins in page 100 
of work cited before, ‘‘ we have the moth in May, June, and July; 
the larva stage lasting some six weeks in June, July, August, or 
September; and the pupa stage extending through autumn, winter, 
and spring.” The earliest day of egg-laying which I find noticed 
is June 11th. 
The moth is a beautiful insect, of the shape and markings figured 
at page 1, but not usually quite so large. The fore wings are rosy- 
brown or ash colour, with olive-brown markings; the hinder wings 
rosy, shading to brown or grey at the margin, with the large eye-like 
spot, from which the name of “ Kyed”” Hawk Moth is given, in the 
centre of each wing. These spots are grey in the centre, with a blue 
ring outside, and this again surrounded by a black border. 
In regard to methods of prevention and remedy, one good plan, 
where the caterpillars have been observed on the Apple-trees, would be 
to skim off the surface soil, taking care not to go deep enough to hurt 
such Apple-roots as may be near the surface. The large red-brown 
chrysalids would be easily seen, and might be destroyed, or any boys 
about the garden might be allowed to earn a few pence by selling 
them (as they are not very commonly met with) to any neighbouring 
“naturalist.” 
Generally the infestation does not seem to be noticed (at least 
practically) until it fairly forces itself on attention by the leafage of 
the attacked boughs being stripped; but where the caterpillars are 
known to have been present in the previous season it would be well to 
keep watch, and clear them before they are getting to their full 
erowth towards the latter part of August or beginning of September. 
By jarring the boughs so as to make the caterpillars fall, or by hand- 
picking from the young trees which appear to be the most attacked, 
this might easily be done. 
It is objected to me by some of our entomologists that it is a pity 
to destroy these handsome and somewhat scarce insects, but it appears 
to me that where we have the opportunity, it is much the most 
desirable way with great insects that have an obvious power of 
wasting our crops to get rid of them as completely as we can. 
B2 
