464 THE M0tHS - 
certain kinds, who, inftead of wings, have only Ihort pro- 
tuberances, altogether unfit for the purpofe of flying. 
They have the appearance of large creeping animals of 
a different order, and can only be recogniied for moths, 
by the fhape of their antennas, which are fimilar to thofe 
of the males, and bj' thofe fcales with which the body of 
thefe animals is covered. 
The plialsense, though lefs brilliant in colour than the 
butterflies, are fome of them far fuperior in fize. The 
pavonia major of Linnaus is much larger than any fpecies 
of the butterfly yet known : In bulk, it feems rather to 
referable a bird than an infect ; and in the richnefs of its 
clothing few of the feathered race can vie with it. 
The three pavonia: * have their name from thofe rich 
and brilliant colours which are fuppofed to have fome 
refemblance to the gaudy drefs of the peacock. Their 
wings appear covered with a gloffy fur; and when fpread, 
difplay four eyes, decorated with vivid colours. Their 
caterpillar is all'o very beautiful ; it is covered with hair, 
and it is the property of fuch to produce thofe fcaly pha- 
kenas, which are moft diftinguifhed by the brilliancy o£ 
their colours. 
The pioths in general do not fly by day ; yet in the 
fummer evenings it is the light which attracts them into 
the dwellings of man : Then they are feen entering the 
rooms, and fluttering around the candles, where they 
often meet with a painful death. This fondnefs for light 
has fuggelled to the curious a method of catching thefe 
animals, by carrying a lantborn into a bower, around 
which they all flock, and numbers are led into captivity. 
1 The 
* Syft. Nat. Ord. III. Gen. iii. fp. 7. 
