192 The Death’s-head Moth. [CHAP. XI. 
Among the articles which he was able to collect, we find 
descriptions of rare moths, rare birds, and rare fishes. Per- 
haps one of the first articles which he published was a de- 
scription of a “ death’s-head moth” found in the parish of 
Ruthven— one of the most wonderful, as it is one of the 
most extraordinary, of insects. 
“Tn its caterpillar state,” says Edward, “it has the power 
of making a pretty loud snapping-like noise, which has 
been compared by some to a series of electric sparks. The 
chrysalis squeaks, but more particularly when about to 
change; and as to the perfect insect itself, it is gifted 
with a voice which it has the power of modulating at pleas- 
ure, being sometimes of a plaintive nature, then mournful, 
then like the moaning of a child, then again like the squeak- 
ing of a mouse. This, together with the fact that it car- 
ries on a portion of its back—that part called the thorax— 
an impression of the front view of a human skull (hence 
its name of death’s-head), has made it an object of the 
greatest terror and dislike among the ignorant and super- 
stitious. It is looked upon, not as the handiwork of the 
Almighty, but as the agent of evil spirits. The very shin- 
ing of its large bright eyes, which sparkle like diamonds, 
is believed to represent the fiery element from which it is 
supposed to have sprung. On one occasion these insects 
appeared in great abundance in various districts of Bretagne, 
and produced great trepidation among the inhabitants, who 
considered them to be the forerunners, and even the causes, 
of epidemic diseases and other calamities. In the Isle of 
France it is believed that any down or dust from their 
wings falling on the eyes causes immediate blindness. 
All this is, of course, merely the result of superstitious 
prejudice. 
“The death’s-head is said to be the largest moth we 
have, and is, in fact, the largest found inhabiting Europe, 
save the peacock moth. Be this as it may, it is a very 
large insect, measuring from five to six inches across the 
