NOTES FROM MY OLD DIARY. 105 



small, the upper ones long and narrow. The swiftness 

 of its hovering motions and the noise of its wings 

 remind one of the humming-bird, hence people call it 

 the Humming Moth. 



The most beautiful of our native moths, and also the 

 largest, is the exquisite pale green Attacus Lvma. This 

 classical name was given it from the moon-shaped figure 

 on each wing, showing the bright colors of blue and 

 scarlet in the centre of the eye-like spots. 



The lower pair of wings are lengthened into long tails 

 like the school-boy's kite, and are beautifully fringed 

 with a pale gold bordering. These long tails are said to 

 be of essential service in aiding the flight of the moth, 

 serving to maintain a proper balance in its passage 

 through the air. Several of our butterflies — as, for 

 example, Papilio turnus, the handsome sulphur-colored 

 Swallow-tail— have this form in a great degree, while in 

 others it is absent, as in Danais archippus, a fine red 

 butterfly, one of our largest and most showy ; also in 

 the representative of the Camberwell Beauty and some 

 others. 



The body of the beautiful green Attacus luna is 

 thickly clothed with soft silky white down. The legs, 

 feet and antennas are of a coppery -red color, the latter 

 short and finely pectinated — that is, having fine tooth- 

 like projections. 



The scarlet and blue colors are very effective in 

 contrast to the exquisite tint of pale green which dis- 



