THE HUMMINGBIRD HAWKMOTH. 85 



scent, that " aromatic soul of flowers" which is 

 principally exhaled at these periods ; delighting in 

 the jasmine, marvel of Peru, phlox, and such 

 tubular flowers ; and it will even insert its long, 

 flexible tube into every petal of the carnation, to 

 extract the honeylike liquor it contains. It will 

 visit our geraniums and greenhouse plants, and, 

 whisking over part of them with contemptuous 

 celerity, select some composite flower that takes 

 its fancy, and examine every tube with rapidity, 

 hovering over its disk with quivering wings, while 

 its fine hawklike eyes survey all surrounding dan- 

 gers. The least movement alarms it, and it darts 

 away with the speed of an arrow ; yet returns, and 

 with suspicious vigilance 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 assi- 

 milates 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, disappears in an instant, and is safe 

 from capture. Wild and fearful as this creature is 

 by nature, yet continued gentle treatment will re- 

 move 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 oil 



