1 36 INTUODUCTIOH TO ZOOLOGY. 



fly most generally in the cool of the morning or evening 

 have the swiftest and most powerful flight ; hence the name 

 Hawk-moths (Fig. 120). They are also called Sphinxes, in 



Fig. 120. SPHINX OF THE ViNii. 



consequence of the head of the caterpillar being held erect, so 

 as to give it some resemblance to the attitude of the Egyptian 

 Sphinx. The tube, which they insert into the blossoms for 

 extracting the honey, is of considerable length : in one native 

 species (Sphinx convolvuli), it measures nearly three inches. 

 Some of the tribe come forth in the brightest sunshine, and 

 have obtained the name of Humming-bird Hawk-moths.* One 

 very remarkable, both for its size and markings, is the Death's- 

 head Moth. Its wings, when fully expanded, measure four 

 inches and three quarters across, so that it is the largest of 

 all European Lepidoptera. It has the habit of robbing bee- 

 hives, and is said to utter a sound which stills the busy 

 inmates, and enables their gigantic plunderer to carry off his 

 booty in safety. We have one in our cabinet which was 

 taken in Holywood (Co. Down), while engaged in Battling 

 against a sparrow. By the ignorant it has been always re- 

 garded with superstitious terror, as the precursor of war, 

 pestilence, and famine. 



The remaining tribes are all included under the common 

 name of " moth." The word is sometimes used to express 

 the extreme of littleness. Thus, we have in Shakspeare, l< a 

 moth will turn the balance;" "wash every moth out of his 

 conscience ;" and similar expressions. To show how inaccurate 

 is this idea of their diminutive size, it is only necessary to 



