THE ELEPHANT HAWK 41 



PLATE XXIII 



THE ELEPHANT HAWK (1 and 2) 



If you were only to see this moth itself, and 

 not its caterpillar, you would be quite sure to 

 wonder why it should ever have been called the 

 "Elephant" Hawk. For it is not in the least 

 like an elephant in any way at all. But the 

 moment you look at the caterpillar you under- 

 stand why this name was given to it; for the 

 front part of its body is so long and slender that 

 it really does remind one rather of an elephant's 

 trunk. And just behind it, on each side, is a 

 big round spot which looks like an eye. 



If you want to find this curious caterpillar you 

 should look for it in August on willow-herb and 

 bedstraw plants which grow on the banks of 

 ditches and streams. Now and then, too, you 

 may find it feeding on fuchsias in gardens. It 

 is sometimes green in colour, and sometimes dull 

 grey or brown, and the horn at the end of its 

 body is black, with a white tip. The moth, as 

 you will see by its picture, is a very pretty one 

 indeed, and you may see it hovering in front of 

 flowers at dusk in May and June. 



