HUMMING-BIJID HAWK-MOTH. 167 



continues its employ, feeding always on the wing. 

 Nature seems to have given this creature some 

 essential requisites for its safety ; its activity, when 

 on the wing, renders its capture difficult ; and when 

 it rests, it is on a wall, the bark of a tree, or some 

 dusky body, that assimilates so nearly to its own 

 colour, as to render it almost invisible, though 

 watched to its settlement : the larva is seldom 

 found. We sometimes see it enter our rooms, 

 attracted by flowers in the open windows ; but it 

 seems to be immediately aware of its danger, dis- 

 appears in an instant, and is safe from capture. 

 Wild and fearful as this creature is by nature, yet 

 continued gentle treatment will remove much of its 

 timidity and render it familiar to our presence. 

 Perfectly free from any annoyance as they are when 

 ranging from sweet to sweet on my borders, and 

 accustomed to a close inspection of all their opera- 

 tions, I have frequently touched their wings with 

 my fingers, while hovering over a flower, and dip- 

 ping their long tubes into the corolla of a geranium : 

 they would retire a little, confused with such free- 

 doms and interruptions, but, experiencing no harm, 

 they would return and finish their meal, unmindful 

 of such petty annoyances. I have known this 

 creature, like some other insects, counterfeit death 

 when apprehensive of danger, fall on its back, and 

 appear in all respects devoid of life when in a box ; 

 and, as soon as a fit opportunity arrived, dart away 

 with its usual celerity *." 



* Journal of a Naturalist, p. 284. 



