‘The Songs and Sonnets of William Shakespeare’ illustrated by Charles Robinson. Published 1915 by Duckworth & Co.
Smerinthus cerisyi of Sphingidae.
When alarmed, resting adults exhibit a very striking defense mechanism: the body is hunched and the wings are flicked upwards to display a pair of glaring ‘eyes’, one on each side of the abdomen (which seems to resemble a beak at the presented angle). Following more disturbance a more dramatic scare tactic is used; this startling ‘face’ is further enhanced by repeated lowering and raising of the forewings, causing a blinking effect to the ‘eyes’.
Shalom Harlow at Christian Dior Haute Couture Fall/Winter 1997.
(Source: vl4da)