206 THE DEATHS-HEAD MOTH. CHAP. xi. 



perfect insect itself, it is gifted with a voice which it 

 has the power of modulating at pleasure, being some- 

 times of a plaintive nature, then mournful, then like 

 the moaning of a child, then again like the squeak- 

 ing of a mouse. This, together with the fact that it 

 carries on a portion of its back, that part called the 

 thorax, an impression of the front view of a human 

 skull (hence its name of Death's-head), has made it 

 an object of the greatest terror and dislike amongst 

 the ignorant and superstitious. It is looked upon, 

 not as the handiwork of the Almighty, but as the 

 agent of evil spirits. The very shining of its large 

 bright eyes, which sparkle like diamonds, is believed 

 to represent the fiery element from which it is sup- 

 posed to have sprung. On one occasion these insects 

 appeared in great abundance in various districts of 

 Bretagne, and produced great trepidation among the 

 inhabitants, who considered them to be the fore- 

 runners, and even the causes, of epidemic diseases 

 and other calamities. In the Isle of France it is be- 

 lieved that any down or dust from their wings falling 

 on the eyes causes immediate blindness. All this is, 

 of course, merely the result of superstitious prejudice. 

 " The Death's-head is said to be the largest moth 

 we have, and is, in fact, the largest found inhabiting 

 Europe, save the Peacock moth. Be this as it may, 

 it is a very large insect, measuring from five to six 

 inches across the wings, and having a body propor- 

 tionately long and thick. The caterpillar, which is 



