J 





36 



The object as well as the seat of the peculiar odour alluded to above, seem not 

 well understood. Some have conjectured it to proceed from a fluid evacuated from 

 the mouth and discharged, to soften the wood in which they burrow ; but its powerful 

 jaws are amply sufficient for such purpose, and besides, the numerous other lignivo- 

 rous larvae are unprovided with such a secretion : moreover, should such be the case, 

 the discharge, and consequently the scent, would only be perceived when the jaws 

 were at work ; but this unpleasant odour is always perceptible. The microscope too 

 does not manifest the exudation of any fluid. {Knapp.) 



The Linnsean specific name, now converted into the generic one, has been given 

 to this insect from the supposition that this creature was the celebrated Cossus of tire 

 ancient Roman epicures; although its peculiar characters seem very unfitted, ac- 

 cording to our modern notions of epicurism, to render it a delicious morsel to the 

 gourmand : but, " De gustibus non est disputandum." 



MAMESTRA PERSICARI^E. THE DOT MOTH. 



Plate XXIV. fig. a—e. 



Synonyms. Phalsena (Noct.) Persicarise, Linn. Syst. Nat. ii. 847. Bonov. Brit. Ins. 

 Albin's Ins. pi. 77 '. fig. a — d. 

 Mamestra Persicarise, Ochsenheimer, Stephens. 



pi. 317. 



Upper Side. The antennae are like crooked threads. The thorax and abdomen are crested. 

 The superior wings are very dark brown, having a number of black waved lines : in the centre 

 of the wing on the bar tendon is a remarkable white spot, tinted in the middle with brown. The 

 inferior wings are brown on the fan edges, but light toward the body. 



The under side of the superior wings is brown, becoming lighter toward the fan edges. The 

 inferior are light, having a dark band crossing over the fan edges, and a dark spot in the middle 

 of the wing. See the moth in the Plate, at (e) and (d). 



The caterpillar feeds on nettles, and the greater bind-weed, &c. There are two kinds of 

 them, the one green, the other brown ; the latter of which produce the male. They are full fed, 

 as at (a) and (b), the end of August ; when they change in the earth to brown shining chrysalides ; 

 and the moths appear about the end of May. 



Expansion of the wings one inch and a half. 



MACROGLOSSA STELLATARUM. THE HUMMING-BIRD HAWK-MOTH. 



Plate XXIV. fig./—?. 



Synonyms. Sphinx Stellatarum, Linn. Syst. Nat. ii. p. 803. Bonov. Brit. Ins. vol. vii. pi. 155. 



Macroglossa Stellatarum, Ochsenheimer, Stephens. Curtis Brit. Ent. pi. 747. Buncan 

 Brit. Moths, pi. 12. fig. 1. 2. 



Upper Side. The antennae are clubbed toward the end ; the thorax dark brown ; abdomen 

 dark brown, furnished with fan-like tufts of hair on each side, having a white spot on each. The 

 anus is also furnished with a tuft of the like kind, resembling the tail of a bird. The superior 

 wings are of a dark brown, having two bars, which cross the wing, dividing it into three parts, 

 between which, near the sector edge, is a small black speck. The inferior wings are of a brown 

 orange colour, which deepens to a red brown along the fan edge. 





