THE CURRANT CLEAR- WING. 419 



than many an insect which can boast of treble its dimensions and dazzling richness of color. 

 This insect may be readily known by its very long proboscis, the tufts at the end of the abdo- 

 men, and the peculiar flight, which so exactly resembles that of the humming-bird, that persons 

 accustomed to those feathered genus have often been deluded into the idea that Europe actually 

 possesses a true humming-bird. 



In the curious moths of which the HYLAS is a good example, the wings are as transparent 

 as those of the bee tribe, and, indeed, the hymenopterous idea seems to run through the 

 whole of these creatures so thoroughly, that the shapes of their bodies, the mode of flight, 

 and even the manner in which they move the abdomen, are so bee and wasp-like, that an 

 inexperienced observer would certainly mistake them for some species of the hymenoptera. 

 Others there are which bear an equal resemblance to the gnats, and are of correspondingly 

 small dimensions. 



IN the next family, the Anthroceridse, we find a number of moths of no great dimensions, 

 but possessing great brilliancy of coloring, and flying by day. A very familiar example of 

 this group is found in the GREEN FORESTER, a pretty little insect, not exceeding an inch and 



8MERINTHUS.-SiCT-in<Aw8 ocellatut. HUMMING-BIRD MOTH. Macroglossa ateUatarum. (Natural size.) 



a quarter in the spread of wing, but colored with extremely pure hues. It may be found 

 plentifully in the month of June, and is most common on the outskirts of woods. The cater- 

 pillar of this insect feeds on the common dock and several allied plants, and, like the perfect 

 insect, is of a green color, but diversified with two rows of black dots along the back, and a 

 row of red dots on either side. The color of the moth is very simple, the upper wings being 

 of a soft golden-green, with a peculiar silken gloss, and the under wings brown. The body is 

 green, but with reflections of blue. 



The well-known BURNET-MOTH, so familiar on account of the rich velvety -green, spotted 

 with scarlet, which decorates its wings, also belongs to this family. The caterpillar feeds on 

 many plants, and is notable for making a spindle-shaped cocoon in which it passes through its 

 pupal state. This cocoon is of a light brown color, and is usiially fastened to an upright stem 

 of grass. 



In the 2Egeriida3, the wings are as transparently clear as in the Sesiadae, and the general 

 aspect is equally unlike that of a moth. A species called CURRANT CLEAR-WING (dSgerict 

 1 1 puliformis) is very common, and is fond of haunting currant-bushes, where it may be cap- 

 tured without much difficulty, being rather dull and sluggish in taking to flight, though when 

 once on the wing it is quick and agile in its movements. On account of its resemblance to th<? 



