464 THE MOTHS. 



certain kinds, who, inftead of wings, have only fliortprd- 

 tuberances, altogether unfit for the purpofe of flying. 

 They have the appearance of large creeping animals of 

 a different order, and can only be recognifed for moths, 

 by the fhape of their antennae, which are fimilar to thofe 

 of the males, and by thofe fcales with which the body of 

 thefe animals is covered. 



The phalaenae, though lefs brilliant in colour than the 

 butterflies, are fome of them far fuperior in fize. The 

 pavonia major of Linnmis is much larger than any fpecies 

 of the butterfly yet known : In bulk, it fcems rather to 

 refemble a bird than an infeft j and in the richnefs of its 

 clothing few of the feathered race can vie with it. 



The three pavomas * have their name from thofe rich 

 and brilliant colours which are fuppofed to have fome 

 refemblanee to the gaudy drefs of the peacock. Their 

 wings appear covered with a gloiTy fur ; and when fpread^ 

 difplay tour eyes, decorated with vivid colours. Their 

 caterpillar is alfo very beautiful ; it is covered with hair, 

 and it is the property of fuch to produce thofe fcaly pha- 

 laenae, which are moll dilUnguilhed by the brilliancy of 

 their colours. 



The moths in general do not fly by day ; yet in the 

 fummer evenings it is the light which attradfcs them into 

 the dwellings of man : Then they are feen entering the 

 rooms, and fluttering around the candles, where they 

 often meet with a painful death. This fondnefs for light 

 has fuggelted to the curious a method of catching thefe 

 animals, by carrying a lanthorn into a bower, around 

 which they all flock, and numbers are led into captivity. 



I The 



• S^[i. Nat. Or J. III. Gen. III. fp. 7. 



