LEPIDOPTERA. 



93 



Emperor-Moths, — Family 8a tueniid^e. 



The splendid moths included in this family are probably amongst the most 

 beautiful, as they certainly are amongst the largest, of all known Lepidoptera, 

 ranging in size from the atlas moth (Attacus atlas), which measures a foot at 

 least in expanse of wing, down to the English emperor-moth, of 2 or at most 

 3 inches in diameter. They do not, however, vary so very much in the com- 

 parative beauty of their richly coloured ocellated wings. The larvee, too, are 

 not only of remarkable beauty, but have great commercial value ; for it is from 

 members of this family that China and Japan obtain vast quantities of a strong, 

 though less expensive silk than that produced by the ordinary silk-worm. The 

 former are the oak silk-moth of China (Saturnia pernyi), and its near relative 

 Anthercva yama-mai of Japan. In all their stages these lovely insects are 

 remarkable, differing widely in their general characters from the majority of 



1 2 



HAWK-MOTHS. 



1, Eyed hawk-moth and larva ; 2, Humming-bird hawk-moth and larva. (Nat. size.) 



moths. The larvae, with their clear rich green velvet bodies, deeply cleft into 

 separate, well-marked segments ; their rounded warts, golden, rose-coloured, and 

 sky-blue, emitting long sinuous hairs, the latter, sometimes enlarged at the 

 extremity, cannot fail to attract attention both for their unusual aspect and their 

 beauty. When this stage is past, and the insect reposes in the large, leathery, 

 sombre-brown cocoon, there is no lack of interest. The mouths of these cocoons, as 

 noted at the commencement of the chapter, are fashioned for the better security of the 

 slumbering pupa. No earwigs, beetles, or other prowling enemy can find its way 

 into the cocoon to destroy the inmate, though the moth can readily emerge as 

 soon as the outer shell of the enclosed pupa has been burst. For with a subtle 

 ingenuity, no less wonderful because instinctive, the larva has carefully provided 



