From a Photograph. 
DEATH’S-HEAD MOTH—FEMALE. (Natural Size.) 
THE DEATH’S-HEAD HAWK=MOTH. 
By Proressor F. E. Hurme, F.L.8., F.S.A. (Photographs by J. J. Ward.) 
VHE beautiful insect depicted on the coloured plate, and shown in photographic 
reproductions on these pages, is the largest of our British moths, and, alike from 
its noble size, from the beauty of its form and the brilliancy of its colouring, compels 
our attention, while the curious skull-like mark on the body gives it just that little touch 
of the weird which seems to have for many people an irresistible attraction, and has 
always rendered the insect an object of terror to the ignorant and superstitious. 
While our coloured illustration represents three stages of the life-history of the creature, 
we need scarcely point out that these can never be found thus together in nature, though 
one might get two of them as contemporaries, some of the caterpillars beimg possibly stall 
to the fore while others had exchanged this prior state of voracious activity for the 
quiescent pupa condition; and at a later period, in the next stage of their eventful 
career, some might have burst the bonds 
of pupa-hood, while others yet remaimed 
bound therein. 
The caterpillars, or larve, should be 
sought for in August, or possibly the 
beginning of September, in the neigh- 
bourhood of dwale, woody nightshade, 
jasmine, tea-tree or potato, the latter 
plant bemg the favounte. They vary 
somewhat im colour from almost pure 
yellow to a clear green or sometimes even 
a strong brown. When the larve are fully , 
ir a See sata ~ developed they bury themselves in the 
GH @ NODE. earth and there pass into the pupa or 
CHRYSALIS OF DEATH’S-HEAD MOTH. (Natural Size.) Inoveaike eine aiagl afin : 3 tl f 
Beneath the soil. chrysalls stage, and alter Many Months oO 
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