208 THE INSECT WORLD, 
belongs. We refer to the Death’s-head Moth (Acherontia atropos). 
It is the largest species of hawk-moth. This insect presents, 
roughly marked out in light yellow, on the black ground of its 
thorax, a human skull. This funereal symbol, joined to the plain- 
tive cry which this moth emits when frightened, has sometimes 
















Fig. 192.—The Convolvulus Sphinx (Sphinx convolvult). 
inspired terror into the whole population of a country. The appear- 
ance of this moth in certain countries having coincided with 
the invasion of an epidemic disease, some thought they saw in 
this doleful sylph of the night the messenger of death. The 
Acherontia atropos plays a great part in the superstitions which 
are believed in by the country folks in England. One hears 
it said in country places that this ominous inhabitant of the 
air is in league with the witches, and that it goes and murmurs 
into their ears with its sad arid plaintive voice the name of 
the person whom death is soon te carry off. In spite of 
its ominous livery, the <Atropos does not come from Hades; 
it is no envoy of death, bringing sadness and mourning. 
It does not bring us news of another world; it tells us, on 
