Gi THE POTATO CROP. 



the same way, at the expense of the juices of the plant. 

 They are met with in abundance during the months 

 of August and September, a dozen or more having been 

 frequently found on a single leaf. In dull weather, Curtis 

 says, they have a curious mode of evading notice, by 

 sliding round to the underneath part of the leaf or the 

 opposite side of the stem, but in bright, warm weather 

 they leap and fly short distances. 



Although the potato leaf is not so palatable as the 

 cabbage or turnip leaves to caterpillars, there appear 

 to be some two or three which find in. it a source of 

 food. One of these is the large caterpillar of the 

 "death's-head moth," Sphinx atropos, which, in some 

 places and in some seasons, is met with abundantly 

 in the potato fields. The caterpillars live chiefly on 

 potato leaves and flowers, but will also eat fuchsias, jas- 

 mines, and probably other plants. They are as big as the 

 centre finger of a man's hand, coming out at night to 

 satisfy their voracious appetites, and lying hidden at the 

 bottom of the plant during the day. This caterpillar, 

 which is the largest of all European species, has also re- 

 ceived the name of "bee tiger-moth," from its propensity to 

 enter bee-hives and make free with the honey. It is said 

 by Reaumur 1 to be able to imitate the note of the queen 

 bee, and thus gain admission to the hive, while its hirsute 

 and thickly-covered horny case enables it to bid defiance to 

 the sting of the bees. It is a very vigorous and powerful 

 insect, and when kept in confinement will utter cries like 

 the faint squeak of a mouse. The mode of depositing the 

 eggs has not been ascertained. They are first seen in July, 

 and these produce moths in September and October, while 

 the later ones remain in the pupse state during the winter, 

 and do not appear as perfect insects until the following 

 spring. These caterpillars are always accompanied by a 



1 Hlstoire Nat. des Insectes, vol. ii. p. 289. 



