death's-head moth. 7 



the Lepidoptera, of emitting a shrill creaking 

 sound, somewhat resembling the squeak of a 

 slate-pencil. 



In some parts of the country the Death's- 

 head Moth is scarce, while in others it is com- 

 paratively plentiful. In Kent it is found in 

 profusion, and I have often had several alive at 

 the same time, they having been caught by the 

 field-labourers and brought to me. Each time 

 that the Moth utters its strange, squeaking note, 

 the whole body gives a convulsive sort of start. 

 It can always be induced to squeak by being 

 irritated. 



The reader must especially notice the short 

 stout proboscis and the oddly-hooked antennae. 

 As is the case with many of the larger Moths, 

 its eyes shine in the dark like two baUs of fixe, 

 the effect of which is very remarkable when the 

 insect is confined in a room dimly lighted by a 

 single candle. 



The larva of this Moth is, when full-grown, 

 a very giant among caterpillars. Its colour is 

 green, with diagonal pink stripes ; and the horn 

 on the tail, nstead of being hard, smooth, and 

 sharply pointed, as is the case with the horns of 

 the Hawk Moths already described, is yellow, com- 

 paratively soft, and covered with little projections. 



