368 THE DEATH'S-HEAD MOTH. 



transfixes it with a pin, and sells or shows the carcass, 

 it is regarded as an insect of evil omen. 



In this country it is not often found, at least, it 

 is one of the rarest of the moths, and found only in 

 warm places. It also selects particular flowers on 

 which to alight; such as the potatoe, the wild sola- 

 nums, and the jasmine. Its size, its solitary habits, 

 and, above all, its peculiar markings, have procured 

 it the vulga-r name. But yet it is an elegant insect : its 

 feathers are peculiarly soft and glossy ; and its colours 

 are arranged with very fine effect. Like the rest of 

 the moth family, it has four lepidopterous scaly, or 

 rather, feathery wings. Of these, the upper pair are 

 of a rich dark gray, marked with orange and white ; 

 and the under ones are of a rich orange, with irregular 

 black bands ; the upper part of the abdomen is orange 

 barred with black; and there is upon that of the 

 thorax a large black spot with white markings, which 

 a moderate degree of imagination might regard as a 

 sort of resemblance of a death's-head and cross-bones ; 

 which last representation is the cause of the greater 

 part of the apprehension and dread with which the 

 appearance of this harmless and handsome insect is 

 regarded. 



There are concurrent causes for the superstition: 

 the moth comes very seldom, being comparatively 

 scarce in all countries ; and when it does come, it 

 comes as " a warning voice ; " and as it carries the 

 markings of the hatchment and the hearse upon its 

 back, that voice can warn of nothing else than a pre- 

 paration for the tomb. 



Now, if a warning of that sort had the proper effect, 



