THE BRITISH NATURE BOOK 



other trees. Chrysalis is dark reddish, somewhat rough, underground, close to 

 the tree. 



Poplar Hawk (Smerinthus populi). E. 2-3| inches. Usually ashy grey, 

 with darker brown central band, a white crescent-shaped spot on fore-wings, 

 and a large red patch at base of the hind-wings. Common from May to July. 

 L. is green, dotted with yellow points, with seven oblique yellow stripes, reddish 

 spiracles, green horn ; feeds on poplar, aspen, sallow, and willow, from July 

 to September. P. dull black, found in the ground close to the surface. 



Eyed Hawk-moth (5. ocellatus), recognized by the rosy red hind- wings, 

 with a large eye-spot near the anal angle. E. 2^-3! inches. L. is green with 

 white points, and seven oblique whitish stripes ; the horn is bluish. P.p. 



Caterpillar of Death's-Head Moth. 



Sallow, willow, apple, and other trees in July and August. Moth found May to 

 July. Fairly common in South, but local in North. 



Death's-Head Hawk-moth (Acherontia atropos). E. 4-5 inches. The 

 largest British moth ; recognized by the mark on the thorax resembling a 

 human skull. L. is sometimes 5 inches long, yellow or green, with violet 

 dots and seven oblique stripes ; purple-brown, edged with yellow. P.p. is 

 the potato chiefly, but also woody nightshade, snowberry, and other plants, 

 on which it may be found from June to September. When about to pupate 

 it burrows some inches into the ground, and by revolving forms a cavity about 

 the size of a hen's egg. The pupa is 2^-3 inches long, dark mahogany in 

 colour. 



The moth may be found from May to September, though it is not a common 

 species. The larva, at least in the South of England, may be found from 

 June to September, and is, I believe, much more frequently found than is 



