LEPIDOPTERA. 



205 



to the night the same winged wanderers which are at once the deHght 

 and ornament of the hours of hght and of day. 



This is the mission of science, to dissipate the thousands of preju- 

 dices and dangerous superstitions which mislead ignorant people. 



Fig. 193.— Death's-head'Hawk-Moth (^Ac/ierontia atro/>os). 



This moth has the front wings of a blackish brown colour, having 

 lighter irregular bands varied with brown and grey, above and below. 

 On the middle of the front wing there is a well-defined white dot. 

 The hind wings have two black bands, the upper narrower than the 

 lower one ; the rest of the wing is a fine yellow. The abdomen has 

 likewise from five to six yellow and as many black bands ; in the 

 middle is a long blackish longitudinal band. This moth is not very 

 rare, and may be found in autumn. Its flight is heavy, and, as we 

 have said, the insect never flies till after sunset. If caught, or when 

 teased, it utters a cry which is very audible (Fig. 193). 



