48 MOTHS 



PLATE XXV 



THE GHOST SWIFT (2 and 3) 



That is rather a curious name to give to a moth, 

 isn't it? But the very first time that you notice 

 the male insect flying about on a warm summer's 

 evening you will see why the title was given to 

 it; for it keeps on suddenly appearing and dis- 

 appearing, over and over again, just as if it had 

 the power of making itself visible or . invisible 

 whenever it chose. The fact is that the upper 

 surface of the wings is glossy white, while the 

 lower is dark brown, and that as the insect flies 

 you can see the one and not the other. So every 

 time that the wings are lowered the moth appears ; 

 and every time that they are raised it disappears. 



The wings of the female, however, are yellowish- 

 brown, with darker markings, so that she is not 

 nearly so ghost-like as her mate. You may 

 sometimes see her flying slowly to and fro in 

 the dusk, and as she does so she keeps on drop- 

 ping her eggs, which fall to the ground below. 

 After a short time they hatch, and out come a 

 number of little dirty white caterpillars, which 

 burrow down into the soil, and feed on the roots 

 of burdock, stinging nettle, and dumb nettle, and 

 sometimes on those of hops. 



