G 
moth in October, It is rather remarkable that while the 
caterpillar is often common, yet the moth is seldom found 
and especially rarely when flying. From the skull on the 
thorax, and the sound uttered by the insect, this moth 
has, in less enlightened times and countries, been regarded 
■with great awe, being considered the harbinger of troubles 
and death. It is still considered by “ outsiders ” and 
young eutemologists as a very rare moth. This, however, 
is not the case, as it occurs throughout Europe not un¬ 
commonly, especially as said before in the caterpillar 
state. In Perthshire it is widely spread, being found 
even in the mountainous parts, such as Kannoch, but is, 
as elsewhere, variable in its appearances, being common 
one year and not seen in others. 
3. The Convolvulus Hawk-Moth (Sphinx convolvuli) 
is nearly as large as the last species, and has marbled grey 
forewings and pale grey bindwingf*, with three dark bands. 
The body is long and pointed, grey in the centre, and 
alternately black, red, and white on each side, on each 
segment or division. Tbe proboscis or spiral tongue is 
very long, and the chrysalis is furnished with an especial 
division or case for bolding this tongue. Tbe caterpillar 
is green, with seven oblique black stripes on each side, 
each stripe being bordered on one side with white ; the 
horn is yellow. The egg is, as usual, smooth and greenish. 
The moth flies in September and in spring, and is very 
fond of flowers, over which it hovers while it extracts the 
honey. It is difiScult to convey in words any idea of the 
graceful flight of one of these moths. It requires to be 
seen to be fully appreciated, Mr Douglas, however, has 
written such a good description, that I may as well 
transcribe it i —“ While you are looking at a flower, in 
the twilight, between it and you glides a motion, a moving 
haziness, which is before you, and yet conveys to your 
eyes no definite image. Before you have half thought 
what it can be, you see the flower again distinctly, and 
rub your eyes, thinking there must have been an illusion, 
or possibly an unsteadiness of vision, caused by the irrita¬ 
tion of that gnat which was buzzing about your head, 
when lo ! the flower just beyond seams to shiver; you 
move to see what is there, but there is a move before you, 
and a dim shadow moves away like a thought. Can it be 
anything real ? Stand still awhile : and now in tbe in¬ 
creasing gloom, as you bend over the petunias, bolding 
your breath, you see a darkness visible drop down before 
you ; but its presence is better made known by the hum¬ 
ming caused by the rapid vibration of its wings. Stir 
