236 TRUE TALES OF THE INSECTS. 



evidence of the light in which it is held. To these 

 fertile imaginations, the grim features stamped thereon 

 represent the head of a perfect skeleton, its cry becomes 

 the moan of anguish, or grief, or of a child ; the very 

 brilliancy of its eyes typifies the fiery element whence it 

 came, for they implicitly believe it to be a messenger of 

 evil spirits. Once, on its plentiful occurrence in Brittany, 

 a country prone to superstition, it created the greatest 

 trepidation among the inhabitants, its appearance co- 

 inciding with a disastrous epidemic, which they charged 

 it with bringing, or, at least, that it came to announce 

 the fatal malady. An idea prevails, among the Creoles 

 especially, that it is very dangerous, in that the dust 

 cast from its wings in flying through a room will blind 

 those in whose eyes it falls, and thus it is driven forth 

 by every means. Even some parts of England have 

 the saying that the moth is in collusion with witches, 

 and whispers in their ear the name of the person for 

 whom the tomb is about to open. 



As a " Bee-robber:' 



Perhaps owing to its habit of flying late at night, it 

 is not quite clear whether or no it gathers food from 

 flowers. It is seen hovering at flowers, it is said, 

 though rarely, but has never been caught while so 



