night-moth

Presently we saw the dark cloud rise gradually from behind the hills, completely clearing their summits, and then sweeping along until it hung over the valley, in form and appearance like some monstrous night-moth, resting the tips of its enormous wings on the mountains on either side.

Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine — Volume 55, No. 342, April, 1844 Various

It is a frightful terror-striking foe, that huge night-moth, which comes ever nearer, growing each moment bigger and blacker.

Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine — Volume 55, No. 342, April, 1844 Various

The night-moth flapped heavily against the small, square window-pane.

Flint His Faults, His Friendships and His Fortunes Maud Wilder Goodwin

Not a sound -- only once the faint cry of some wild animal in the far-off woods, and the flutter of a night-moth on the wing.

Vera Nevill Or, Poor Wisdom's Chance H. Lovett Cameron

Wrapped in a large cloak which covered up her convent uniform, she looked, as compared with the gay girls around her, like a poor sombre night-moth, dazzled by the light, in company with other glittering creatures of the insect race, fluttering with graceful movements, transparent wings and shining corselets.

The French Immortals Series — Complete Various

The gigantic night-moth gaped and shot forth tongues of fire -- a ghastly white flame, that contrasted strangely and horribly with the dense black cloud from which it issued.

Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine — Volume 55, No. 342, April, 1844 Various

Marie stole slowly, flutteringly, along the path, like a white night-moth out of the fields.

O Pioneers! Willa Sibert Cather 1910

For a few moments there was complete silence, so that one could plainly hear a night-moth desperately beating against the window-pane.

Sanine Mikhail Petrovich Artzybashev 1902

Some swimming frog, some terrified, hurrying mouse, or some great night-moth flopping down upon the dim water of a moonless night, would have lulled his suspicions and concealed the inescapable barb; and the master of the pool would have gone to swell the record of an ingenious conqueror.

The Watchers of the Trails A Book of Animal Life Charles George Douglas Roberts 1901

Like the wool ye might shear off a night-moth, an 'set an ould fairy to spin;

Penelope's Irish Experiences Kate Douglas Smith Wiggin 1889