SEPTEMBER. 243 



leaves ; it usually protects itself from the weather by drawing 

 a few leaves round it, securing them by silken threads. 



LEPIDOPTERA. SPHINGID^E. 



ACHERONTIA. 



Generic Distinctions. Antennae and proboscis very short, the 

 former terminating in a hook ; wings not indented. 



ACHERONTIA ATROPOS. (PlateXI.) Death's-head Hawk- 

 Moth. The primary wings dark brown, marked with several 

 waved stripes of deep black and red, the latter colour mark- 

 ing the nervures on the hinder margin ; near the centre of 

 the wings there is a round whitish spot ; the secondary wings 

 are deep yellow, with two dark bands ; the head and thorax 

 are similar in colour to the upper wings, the latter having a 

 large spot somewhat resembling a human skull. The cater- 

 pillar is sometimes five inches long, of a fine yellow, with 

 seven oblique bands of green on each side, and a series of 

 blue spots on the back, which is also marked with black ; it 

 feeds principally on the potato, and is much more common 

 than the perfect insect, as many of them die before complet- 

 ing their transformation. These fine insects are found in 

 various localities both in England and Scotland, and appear 

 to have been very abundant two years since. 



R 2 



to have 



