Things of Middle-earth
Giant Moths
Type: Animals
Description:Although it was not yet very cold [in Mirkwood], they [Thorin Oakenshield's company] tried lighting watch-fires at night, but they soon gave that up. It seemed to bring hundreds and hundreds of eyes all round them, though the creatures, whatever they were, were careful never to let their bodies show in the little flicker of the flames. Worse still it brought thousands of dark-grey and black moths, some nearly as big as your hand, flapping and whirring round their ears. They could not stand that, nor the huge bats, black as a top-hat, either; so they gave up fires and sat at night and dozed in the enormous uncanny darkness.
The Hobbit, Ch 8, Flies and Spiders
Contributors: Elena Tiriel 25May04
added links: ET 29May04
