THE GHOST MOTH. 281 



The ghost moth (hepialus humuli) is commonly 

 seen here, as I believe it to be in most other places, 

 but is mentioned to point out to any young person 

 unacquainted with this insect its singular habit when 

 on the wing, which at once distinguishes it from 

 any other moth. The larva which produces this 

 creature is hidden in the ground during the season 

 of winter ; the fly being formed in the month of 

 May, and soon rising from the soil, then commences 

 its short career. At this time one or more of them 

 may frequently be observed under some hedge in a 

 mead, or some low place in a damp pasture, only a 

 few feet from the ground, persevering for a length 

 of time together in a very irregular flight, rising, 

 and falling, and balancing about in a space not ex- 

 ceeding a few yards in circumference, an action not 

 observable in any other, and fully indicating this 

 moth. This procedure is not the meanless vagary 

 of the hour, but a frolicsome dance, the wooing of 

 its mate, which lies concealed in the herbage over 

 which it sports. The two insects are something 

 similar in their general form, but very differently 

 marked. The male exhibitor is known by its 

 four glossy, satiny, white wings, bordered with 

 buff; the lady reposer has her upper wings of a 

 tawny yellow, spotted and banded with deep brown. 

 They are very inert creatures, easily captured, 

 and their existence appears to be of very short 

 duration, as we soon cease to observe them, either 

 in action or at rest. The male probably be- 



