Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 05 June 1931

Pigeons.

The members of the Great Houghton pigeon flying group have arranged a number of short distance events.

The results of the three recently held were as follows. In the first, four birds tied for the first place—J. Gregory. W. Davies, A. Webster and the club bird. The time was 34.

The second race resulted: 1 J. Fowey, 2 J. Gregory and W. Davies.

A further race on the same day was won by a bird belonging to J. Leyland. The nest short distance race of threequarters of a mile from the direction of Clayton will be on the 13th June. Twenty birds at 2s. 6d. each will he entered.

Death’s Head

Fred Peel brought to me for identification last week-end a very large and handsome moth, which he had found climbing up the window of his house.

It is to be hoped he is not superstitious for the moth was a line specimen of the Hawk Moth, known as the Death’s Head. It gets this name from the arrangement of small yellow hairs on the hack of its head, which exactly resemble a skull. This particular specimen was 41 inches from wing tip to wing tip and it had the beautiful marking characteristic of its kind.

The caterpillar from which the moth ultimately emerges is about 4 inches long with seven lilac stripes and a yellow horn on its tail. If it is found at all in this district it is likely be discovered feeding upon the leaves of the potato plant.

A curious thing about the caterpillar is that it can squeal, eves the chrysalis can manage it, whilst the moth itself when handled will squeak like a mouse. The specimen found locally is new in the Council School museum.