On the Sound made by the Death's Head Moth, “Acherontia Atropos”

Abstract

THE singular cry produced by the Death's Head Moth has for a long time been known to naturalists, and the question of the exact method of its production has given rise to much discussion. To judge, however, from the latest writings on the subject, the matter is considered even now as being far from definitely elucidated. In the autumn, about six years ago, I was lucky enough to rear over a hundred imagos of Acherontia atropos from pupæ obtained from potato diggers in the neighbourhood of Bristol. I made then some observations on the production of the sound in question, but I did not consider them as sufficiently perfect for publication. I got no more specimens until last autumn, when I obtained a single imago from ten pupse, but on this I made an experiment which I believe to be crucial in the matter. Absence from England, however, on the Government Eclipse Expedition, has prevented my giving an account of my experiment until now.