THE CONVOLVULUS HAWK-MOTH, 4.. 17 



precaution be not taken, the shell of the chrysalis is apt to become so hard that the moth is 

 unable to break its way out, and perishes in the shell. I have several specimens where the 

 moth has thus perished. The caterpillars are also much infested by ichneumon-flies, so that 

 the collector often finds his hopes of a fine insect destroyed by these small and fatal flies. It 

 is worthy of remark, that, when this moth first emerges from the chrysalis shell, its wings, 

 legs, and antennae are enveloped in a fine and delicate membrane, which soon dies when 

 exposed to the air, and falls off in pieces, permitting the limbs to unfold themselves. Mr. 

 Westwood regards this membrane as analogous to the pellicle upon the pseudimago of the 

 may -fly, described at page 396. 



One of the most curious points in the history of the Death's-head Moth is its power of 

 producing a sound a faculty which is truly remarkable among the Lepidoptera. The noise 

 is something like the grating, squeaking cry of the field-cricket, but not nearly so loud. The 

 mode of producing the sound is rather doubtful ; but modern investigations seem to confirm 

 the opinion of Huber and Rosel, who thought that the sound was produced by friction of the 

 abdomen against the thorax just at the junction. At all events, it is certain that the moth 

 always bends its abdomen downwards whenever this squeak or cry is heard, and a circular 

 tuft of orange-colored hairs below the wings is seen to expand at the same time. 



The color of the caterpillar is bright yellow, and the body is covered with many small 

 tubercles. Along each side run seven oblique bands of a fine green. At the end of the tail is 



PINE HAWK-MOTH. Sphinx ptnastri. With eggs and caterpillar. (Natural size.) 



a granulated kind of horn, and upon the back are many spots of black and blue. The color 

 of the moth is briefly as follows : On the upper surface, the front pair of wings are blackish- 

 brown covered with waved stripes and dashes of deep black and powdered with white. There 

 are also some stripes of rusty-red on the edges. The lower wings are ochre-yellow, and 

 marked with two bands of deep bluish-gray, the upper band about half the width of the lower. 

 The thorax is blackish-brown, and has on its surface a marvellously accurate semblance of a 

 human skull and collar-bone. The plumes, or lengthened scales, of which this is composed 

 are beautifully soft, with a rich deep pile, and feel like velvet under the fingers. A fine 

 specimen of the Death's-head Moth is almost the largest insect found in Europe, the spread of 

 wing sometimes reaching nearly six inches. The antennae are remarkable for their stiff and 

 sturdy make and the curious hook with which they are terminated. 



We now arrive at the typical genus of the family, of Avhich the CONVOLVULUS HAWK-MOTH 

 affords a good example. It may be mentioned that the term Sphingidae is derived from the 

 peculiar attitude sometimes assumed by the caterpillars, which have a custom of raising the 

 fore part of the body so as to bear a fanciful resemblance to the well-known attitude in which 

 the Egyptians were accustomed to represent the mysterious Sphinx. 



The fine insect seems to be found sparingly in most parts of Europe, especially towards 

 the south. As is the case with many of the nocturnal moths, its eyes shine brightly at night, 

 and on account of their great size are very conspicuous in this respect. The specific name oi' 



Vol.. UI.-68. 



