1-24 



'onu ^otc0 0it % f^mbing of t\t 



By the Eev. Aethub P. Mobees, Vicar of Britford. 



ST must be a very unobservant mind, whether it belong to an 

 entomologist or no, that can regard this, the finest of all 

 our British — if not European — lepidoptera, with only a passing 

 glance of recognition. In old time the object of the grossest 

 superstition, it is now allowed to be one of the most harmless of 

 insects; and one that in every stage of its existence, whether it be 

 larva, pupa, or perfect imago, cannot but arrest and please the eye, 

 whenever it may light upon it. A fine caterpillar of this moth is 

 one of the most beautiful larvae that exist ; its gorgeous colouring 

 of gamboge yellow, apple green, and bright blue oblique stripings 

 affording a most pleasing combination of colour, and one which, I 

 must confess, I myself am never tired of looking at. 



This autumn the larvse of this insect have been unusually plentiful 

 in the district of Salisbury. I have had specimens brought me 

 from all parts of the parish, and if I could only have indoctrinated 

 my people with their real value (anyhow in my eyes) I think I 

 might say I should have had scores of them. In our Union potato 

 ground, which consists of three or four acres, they were very 

 numerous ; and at the offer of 3^. a head for them, as " ^baccy 

 money,''' the inmates used to hunt narrowly after them for me. 

 But my hopes were cut short by a neighbour, who also found out 

 this treasure house of larvse, and who eclipsed me by offering Qd. 

 for them. This I thought somewhat hard, as I considered, as 

 chaplain of the establishment, I had a kind of prior right to them. 

 But I had no resource left me but to offer sixpence myself; and by 

 ■this means I got my share in whatever was found. The villagers 

 in my parish, however, I could not get to understand the interest I 

 felt in them ; and the only answers I got to my interrogatories were 

 such as these, " Lor, Sir, I\e often see'd they, but did not know 



