THE GHOST MOTH. 



283 



slight elastic force, that conveys them clear from the 

 abdomen. They are perfectly dry and unadhesive. 

 It requires more than usual delicate management 

 to preserve an uninjured specimen of the male of 

 this species, as the slightest touch robs the wings of 

 the fine scaly plumage which is affixed to their film 

 or substance by an extreme point, as is the case 

 with most others of our moths, but in this instance 

 so loosely, that a very gentle friction rubs it off. 

 The plumage which covers the wings and bodies of 

 many of our lepidopterous insects is variously 

 coloured, and like the feathers of birds, gives them 

 their splendour : in the butterflies I have not ob- 

 served it to vary greatly in form, but in the moths 

 the same uniformity does not appear to be main- 

 tained, as a few specimens will manifest : 



7 9 



No. 1. Scales from wings of phalaena pronuba yellow under- 

 wing. 2. Ghost moth. 3. Phalaena bucephala buff tip. 4. Ph. 

 vinula puss moth. 5. Ph. potatoria, 'a, the female drinker 

 moth. 6. Papilio brassicse great white. 7. Pap., Napi green- 

 veined butterflies. 8. Large brown moth (name omitted). 

 9. Acherontia atropos death's head. 



