134 



FQKEST AND STREAM. 



turd Wizt 0r U+ 



ABOUT MOTHS. 



THE butterflies furnish a very excellent illustration of the 

 order of insects to which they belong. These insects 

 are known as JJBpuhpiera (scaly winged), from one of their 

 leading characteristics, viz., the possession of four filmy wings 

 thickly covered with minute scales, to which the beautiful 

 coloring of the butterfly's wing is due. This, however, is not 

 the only common character by which these creatures are at 

 once united among themselves and distinguished from other 

 insects ; the great completeness of the metamorphosis they un- 

 dergo, from a crawling caterpillar to a creature whose life is 

 spent almost entirely on the wing, wilh an intervening state 

 of perfect repose, is another distinction, which, although by 

 no means, peculiar to the Lepidoptera, yet serves to separate 

 them from several other orders of insects, in which the differ- 

 ence between the form of the creature on emerging from the 

 egg and that which it is destined to acquire is much less. A 

 more, important character than the scaly covering of the wings 

 is presented by the peouliar structure of the mouth, which in 

 this order consists of a long tongue rolled up in a spiral form 

 between a pair of hairy organs known as palpi, or feelers. 

 Different as these delicate organs appear at first sight; from 

 the powerful jaws by which the caterpillar gnaws his destruc- 

 tive path through the foliage of field and forest, the same parts, 

 modified indeed in form, may yet be recognized in the perfect 

 insect that existed in its crawling, worm-like, preparatory 

 state. The strong biting jaws have become very small, al- 

 though in most cases they are to be found concealed under the 

 other organs of the mouth. But the second pair of jaws, with 

 which the caterpillar masticates his food, have undergone a 

 wonderful transformation— it is from these that the long spiral 

 trunk has been formed. These, in the perfect insect, as in 

 the caterpillar, are jointed organs; but in the former the ter- 

 1 mural portion of each is drawn out into a long filament, fur- 

 nished on its inner surface with two narrow ridges, which, fit- 

 ting exactly to those of the other filament, form by then union 

 a long slender tube, piercing the trunk through its entire 

 length. The lower lip of the caterpillar also shares in the 

 changes undergone by all the neighboring organs ; for in the 

 preparatory state it is furnished with a pair of minute feelers, 

 and with a fine tube, the orifice of the silk apparatus, by 

 means of w r hich when ready to pass into the chrysalis condi- 

 tion it attaches itself to some point of support, or encloses it- 

 self in a silken bag in obedience to the instincts implanted by 

 nature. This tube, being of course useless to the insect in its 

 last condition, is then no longer to be found ; but the little 

 palpi or feelers acquire an enormous development, and form 

 the hairy bed in which the trunk is nearly concealed when 

 coiled up in repose. The antennfe also, which in the cater- 

 pillar are very small, are converted in the perfect insect into 

 long organs of very various forms ; and the organs of vision, 

 instead of consisting of a few little black points on each side 

 of the head, arc developed into those beautiful globular struc- 

 tures which may be seen to constitute the great bulk of the 

 head in any of the common butterflies. 



The most striking general difference between the two great 

 groups of Lepidoptera, butterflies and moths, is to be found in 

 the form of the antenna?, which in the former are always 

 clubbed at the tip, while in the latter they are thread-shaped 

 or tapering, or sometimes thickened toward the end, but af- 

 terward tapering to a fine point. Another distinction which 

 is of still more importance in a scientific point of view, is that 

 in the moths the wings of each side are united during their 

 flight by a small bristle attached to the anterior margin of the 

 hind wing, which passes through a little loop formed on the 

 hinder margin of the fore-wing ; this arrangement is wanting 

 in the butterflies. 



In the sphinxes, which from their great power of flight are 

 generally known as Hawk-math, tkeantenuae are always thick- 

 ened beyond the middle, but taper afterward to a fine point. 

 Some of these have trunks of great length, by means of which 

 they extract the nectar of flowers while hovering over them 

 in the manner of a humming-bird. From this habit and its 

 size and general bird-like appearance when on the wing, one 

 of the commonest of sphinxes has received the name of " Hum- 

 ming-bird Hawk-moth" {Matroglossa stellatarwn). A nearly 

 allied arid very beautiful species is the Drone-bee Hawk-moth 

 | [MaorogldsSa fua'formis), an insect very common to the conti- 

 nent of Europe. The general color of the body is a bright 

 olive green, yellowish at the hinder extremity, where there is 

 also a black tuft of hair on each side ; across the middle there 

 is a dark brown band, while the wings are transparent with a 

 dark brown border, the anterior pair possessing also an olive- 

 green patch close to the body. In the Humming-bird Hawk 

 moth the wings are. covered with scales throughout, but in 

 form and habits the two insects very closely agree. 



In the Death's-head moth (Ascherontw atropos), which also 

 belongs to the group of Hawk-moths, the trunk, instead of be- 

 ing very long as in the preceding insects, is reduced to com- 

 paratively small dimensions, being scarcely longer than the 

 head of the moth, while in the Humming-bird variety it ex- 

 ceeds the whole body iu length. The Death's-head is the 

 largest Of European moths, frequently measuring upward of 

 five inches in expanse ol whig. In general color it is blackish 

 brown, the anterior wings irregularly clouded with dull orange 

 ■Wilh a white spot near their middle ; the posterior are dull 



an e with two brown bands. The body is banded with 



orange and black, and the appearance of the insect is rendered 

 exceedingly remarkable by the very singular marking of the 

 thorax. This bears a large dull orange patch, within which 

 are smaller blackish spots, giving a by no means indistinct rep- 

 resentation of a " death's head." This peculiar mark, coupled 

 with the generally funereal character of the coloration of the 

 insect, has obtained for it an unenviable position in the vulgar 

 mind, as its appearance in larger numbers than usual has been 

 regarded, in some localities, as portentious of an approaching 

 pestilence. Singularly enough, in the year 1733 it appeared 

 in great numbers in Brittany, simultaneously with a very fatal 

 epidemic, and so completely did the weaker and more ignorant 

 of the peasantry consider the moth as the cause of the disease, 

 that the sight of one was sufficient to produce the greatest fear 

 in the beholder, who regarded it as the harbinger of approach- 

 ing death. This moth possesses another curious faculty, 

 which no doubt conspired with the symbols of death with 

 which it is ornamented to raise a feeling of superstitious dread 

 in the minds of those whose attention was called to it for the 

 first time, as when irritated or handled it emits a plaintive cry 

 or squeak. This circumstance has long been known, and 

 though several eminent naturalists have endeavored to explain 

 the mode in which the sound is produced, they have not as yet 

 s.rri ved at any satisfactory conclusion. The faculty of emitting 

 sound is by some believed to be connected with the singular 

 habit of this insect, which renders its multiplication in unusual 

 numbers an object of real and well-founded dread to keepers 

 of bees. The moth has a most gluttonous taste for honey, and 

 is one of the most inveterate plunderers of bee-hives. The bees 

 on its entrance into their domicile generally disperse immedi- 

 ately, as though in dread of the gigantic intruder, who is thus 

 left to surfeit himself at his ease upon the sweets which these 

 industrious creatures had laid up for their winter store. It is 

 certainly singular that a creature, with only the advantage of 

 size, should dare, without sting or shield, singly, to plunder in 

 their stronghold these well armed and numerous insects ; and 

 more singular, that it should always contend with them victo- 

 riously. Many believe that the thick fur with which the moth 

 is covered prevents the stings of the bees from reaching its 

 body ; but it is far more probable that it has the means of 

 spreading terror among their ranks. The caterpillar of this 

 moth is, as might be expected, of great size, measuring of times 

 as much as four inches and a half in length, and two thirds of 

 an inch in diameter. Like all other caterpillars of the Hawk- 

 moths, it has a somewhat lengthened horn attached to the 

 back of the eleventh segment; and it has in common with 

 most of the allied species the habit of raising the anterior seg- 

 ment of the body, supporting itself by adhering to the branch 

 on which it rests by the membranous feet of the hinder seg- 

 ments. In this attitude these caterpillars present to a fanciful 

 mind a slight resemblance to the Egyptian sphinx, which in- 

 duced Linnaeus to apply the word sphinx as a generic name 

 to these moths. The caterpillar of the Death's-head moth 

 lives principally upon the plants of the tomato or vines of the 

 potato, and the chrysalis are frequently turned up in digging 

 the tubers of the latter in Autumn. The moth generally ap- 

 pears iu October, but is rarely seen by day, preferring twilight 

 or darkness for its aerial flights. 



Another beautiful species is the Lime Hawk-moth (Smerin- 

 tlms Tiliw), so called from its caterpillar feeding mostly upon 

 the foliage of the lime tree. ThiB moth has the fore wings 

 much notched at the tips, and it varies greatly in color ; but in 

 the variety most generally met with, the wings are of a fawn 

 color, with a broad band at the tip, and two olive green spots 

 at about the middle of the anterior wings ; the trunk, too, is 

 even shorter than with the Acherontia atropos. 



The antenna? of the hawk-moths are generally more or lesss 

 serrated, or toothed like a comb on the inner surface ; but this 

 character is by no means so striking as in some other species 

 in which they are, particularly with the males, toothed or 

 pectinated on both sides, the little filaments forming the 

 combs being frequently of such length as to give the entire 

 atennse the appearance of a delicate feather. An instance of 

 this is presented in the male of the Gipsy moth (Hypogymna 

 dispar). In appearance the two sexes of this moth differ con- 

 siderably from each other, the male being much the smaller, 

 and of grayish color, with some blackish lines and spots on the 

 anterior wings; the female, however, is white with dusky 

 lines, describing much the same pattern as the male. The 

 caterpillar feeds on fruit trees. 



A common and beautiful insect, common to the British 

 Isles, and closely allied to the last, is the Tiger moth (Arctia 

 caja), which is produced from a large, hairy, bear-like cater- 

 pillar often seen feeding upon nettles. The Okelonia pudica is 

 another beautiful species, nearly allied to the two preceding. 

 The ground color of the wings is flesh-like, or pinkish white, 

 the hinder wings especially in the female presenting a very 

 delicate shade. The fore wings are nearly covered with a 

 number of black spots, but the hind wings have but two or 

 three spots of variable size; the body too is spotted and 

 banded, but. with rose-color and black. 



The feathered structure of the antennre is also observable in 

 the male of the Lappet moth (Gastropacha gua-d folia), the 

 caterpillar of which feeds on various trees. This and some 

 allied aperies have received the name of Lappets on account 

 of the curious fleshy appendages attached to the sides of the 

 body of the caterpillar and which completely conceal the feet. 

 These caterpillars are very hairy, and when they arc handled 

 the hairs penetrate the skin and produce considerable inflam- 

 mation and itching. The moths are also called eggers, from) 

 the chrysalis being enclosed hi a very smooth, fine, egg-like 

 cocoon. The 0. gaercifolia is rendered further remarkable by 



the curious position assumed by the hiuder wings dur 

 pose, which, instead of being concealed by the upper • 

 as is the case in other moths, project on each side in the form 

 of rounded notched leaves, giving the insect a very singular 

 appearance. The general color is deep redish brown marked. 

 with blackish lines. The silk worm, with the manufactured 

 produce of whose beautiful cocoon we are all familiar, is the 

 caterpillar of the Bombyx mori, belonging to the same group ' 

 as the Lappet moth ; and many of our common moths also 

 weave cocoons in which to pass their season of repose in the 

 chrysalib state. But the most singidar application of this' 

 powar of silk spinning is exhibited in the history of 

 moths, also nearly allied to the preceding, whose caterpillars 

 live together m numerous societies, retiring, after feeding, to 

 a eapacious nest of tolerably firm texture, woven by them- 

 selves from the materials afforded by their own bodies, 

 of these, as the Processionary caterpillar {Cncthocampa pro- 

 cessionist,), quit their nest, which is usually attached to oak 

 trees, in a regular and well-ordered procession; one takes the 

 lead, and is followed by others in single file generally fur a, 

 space of about two feet ; they them come in pairs for a time, 

 then three, four, or five abreast, and so on until they sometimes 

 march ten or even twenty in a row. All the movements of 

 the leader are faithfully copied by those who follow. 



Another species, the Cncthocampa pityocampa, or Pine pro- 

 cessionary, as its name indicates, attaches its nest to pine trees. 

 The principal enemy of these moths is the larvae of a large 

 and very voracious beetle, the Calosama sycophanta, which 

 breaks into their nests and commits vast havoc upon the de- 

 fenseless inhabitants. Occasionally, however, the tyrant pays 

 dearly for his feast, for when gorged he is no match for more 

 active and hungry members of his own species, who, disap- 

 pointed perhaps by the vacant nest of their expected prey, feel 

 no scruples about taking it at secondhand by an act of canni- 

 balism. Nearly allied to these, and especially to the silk worm 

 moth, is the gigantic atlas (Saturnia atlas), which inhabits 

 the East Indias and Chinia. It measures between eight and 

 nine inches in expanse of wing ; and other species nearly as 

 large are found in several tropical countries. Many of these 

 insects — some of which furnish a silk which is used in manu- 

 factures—have singular transparent spots in the centre of the 

 wings, looking as though pieces had been cut out and replaced 

 by fragments of talc. 



Of the remaining groups our space will not allow us to say | 

 much; and we can only refer to the most interesting and nu- 

 merous of them — the family of Qeometera— the caterpillars of 

 which are known to entomologists by the name of Loopers. 

 Both these names are derived from the singular mode of loco- 

 motion adopted. Possessing only a single pair — and that the i 

 hindmost — of the membranous feet on which other caterpillars 

 support the greater part of the body, they are unable to crawl 

 like their more fortunate brethren. Accordingly in walking ; 

 they stretch the body out to its full length, when they attach 

 themselves by their anterior feet, and then, drawing up the i 

 body in the form of a loop bring the hinder feet up close to the I 

 others, attach them and repeat the process until the desired 

 distance is traversed. Hence they appear to be constantly 

 measuring the distance over which they travel, and from this 

 circumstance the name of geometric caterpillars has long been 

 applied to them. They have also a singular habit of adhering 

 to a branch by their hinder feet and stretching out the rest of 

 the body in such a manner as to present a very close resem- 

 blance to a dead twig; and thus no doubt often elude the vigi- 

 lance of their enemies. The moths produced from these cater- 

 pillars are of a much slighter make than those already de- 

 scribed; their bodies are slender, their wings soft and weak and 

 their flight irregular aud fluttering. They are most truly noc- 

 turnal insects, very few of them ever being seen in the day 

 time. 



Space forbids our entering upon the history of the vast num- 

 bers of smaller moths which form the concluding groups of . 

 the Lepidoptera, but their economy presents much to attract 

 the attention even of the most careless observer ; and the sin- 

 gular habits of the leaf-rolling and leaf-mining caterpillars 

 will afford a never-fading source of interest to any one who 

 will take the trouble to study them. 



A Useful Gull.— Having had a sea gull (which we found 

 with a broken wing) in our garden for about five years, I can, 

 from experience, state that they are most valuable extermi- 

 nators of those garden pests, slugs, etc. "Bill," as we called 

 him, was a vciy clever forager, and the gardener greatly re- 

 gretted him when some mischievous boys "cooked his gi 

 I would strongly recommend any of your readers, who can, to 

 at once procure one. — English Mechanic. 





TnE Woxdebs of a Flea.— Whena llr ppeai 



as large as an elephant we can see all the wonderful parts of 

 its formation, and are astonished to find that it has a coat of 

 armor much more complete than ever warrior wore, and com- 

 posed of strong poJished plates, titled over each other, each 

 plate covered like a tortoise shell, and where they meet hun- j 

 dreds of strong quills project, like those on the back of the | 

 porcupine and hedge-hog. There is' the arohed neck, the bright 

 eye, the transparent eases, the piercers to puncture the skin, 

 a sucker to draw away the blood, six long-jointed legs, four of 

 which are folded on the breast, all ready at any moment to be 

 thrown out with tremendous force for that jump which bothers 

 one when they want to ealeh him, and at the end of eai 



le him to cling to whatever he lights up< a, 

 A ilea can jump 100 times iis owTilengl.il, which 



an jumped 000 feet, and he can draw a load of 200 

 his own weight. 



