44 LETTERS ON ENTOMOLOGY. 
and scalloped at the edges; the under wings 
project beyond the upper, and resemble them. 
On the head it has a kind of beak formed by two 
bearded horns, which look like the leaf stalk ; 
the antennae, which lie backwards as far as the 
wings, seem the continuation of it ; and, in short, 
the deception is complete while the moth is at 
rest. Tk^y are t0 b e found in England; but 
we cannot be surpiioo^ tnat th ev are seldom 
discovered, particularly as they are vc*y quiet 
in the day. The chrysalis is nearly conical in 
shape, and of the usual colour, but appears pow- 
dered. The caterpillar is very large, and lives 
on pear and peach-trees. 
The death's-head moth, or Sphinx Atropos, is 
also very singular: it takes its name from the 
representation of a skull on its back or thorax, 
and was formerly regarded with great terror by 
the people of Brittany, who looked on it as the 
forerunner of pestilence. Unfortunately this in- 
sect is distinguished by the mournful cry it has 
the power of making ; it is something like the 
squeak of a mouse, but more plaintive, and this 
increased their terror. The noise is produced by 
the moth striking its trunk with two bearded 
laminae, which are placed on each side. There is 
a membrane above the trunk which may have 
