Moth identification

[SteveD]

Sorry for posting this again, but I have now added a photo:

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Animals_and_Nat ure/Question293700.html

[Cetti]

The poor old thing looks as though it's seen better days Steve, doesn't it?

Have a look at the Pine Hawk moth. This is a large European moth, wingspan 7.8 - 8cms, forewing grey-brown with blurred bands, delicately mottled, hind wing brown, fringes narrow with alternating dark brown and white - also blurry.

I can't find anything else in my books as large with that colouring, so perhaps someone else will come up with something if you don't think this is the right one.

[Cetti]

Here's how it should look if it was well and happy ;-)

http://i9.tinypic.com/4hdc904.jpg

[SteveD]

Thanks very much, Cetti. Yes, that does seem to be the one. It really is in a sorry state (no scales on the wings and no fur on the back). It is still alive more than 24 hours since I first saw it.

I put it on a sheet of paper in the bright sunshine to take the photo and it really didn't like that. It's now in a safer place but I don't think it's much longer for this world.