HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



133 



AMONGST THE CLEARW1NGS. 



rpHOSE British moths, known popularly by the 

 •*■ name of " Clearwings," and belonging to the 

 section of the Lepidoptera called the Sesidse, 

 constitute a distinct, singular, and for several 

 reasons, a highly-interesting group. In their 

 general appearance they bear a marked resem- 

 blance to bees, wasps, or flics, belonging to + he 



Fig. 67. Fiery Clear wing 

 (Sesia chrysidiformis). 



fie-. fi8. Orange-tailed Clear, 

 wing (Sesia andremfurmis) . 



orders Hymenoptera, or Diptera ; though not, in 

 all cases, like those we should expect from a 

 consideration of the scientific or vernacular name, 

 which occasionally indicates a fanciful imagination 



Fig. 69. Currant Clearwing 

 (Sesia tipulifurmis). 



Fig. 71). Yellow-legged Clear- 

 wing (Sesia cynipi/ormis). 



on the part of the giver. But each and all, without 

 exception, are unmoth-like externally ; it is only by 

 a closer investigation and the knowledge of their real 

 structure and actual transformations, that we can 



Fij. 71. Welsh Clearwing Fig. 72. Large Red-belted Clear- 

 (Sesta scutiiefunitis). wing (Sesia culicformis) . 



rank them amongst the moths ; forming part, 

 according to Linnseus, of the genus Sphinx, and 

 included by him amongst the twilight-fliers, 

 though that is far from being their general charac- 

 teristic. Now, by more recent entomological 

 authors, these transparent-winged moths are 

 massed together, with a host of species most 

 different in size, contour, and habit, in the large 

 division named Noctumi, thanks to M. Guenee, 

 who, if he has, in verification of the old proverb, 

 failed to get due honour in his own land, has 

 certainly had an abundant share of it here. 

 I scarcely suppose that the most ardent advocate 



of rapid evolution, as a means of the production 

 of species, would be inclined to assert that these 

 moths took their origin from aberrant individuals 

 of the respective bees or flies they may be held 

 to represent, or vice versa. It would be conceded 

 that there must have been many steps or stages 



Fig. 73. Six-belted Clearwing 

 (Sesia irhneuriionifurmis). 



Fig. 74. White-barred Clear- 

 wing (Sesia sphegifurmis). 



between the two ; and, therefore, even on the 

 Darwinian hypothesis, we have not much help 

 given us towards the explanation of the circum- 

 stance, that species belonging to such very different 



Fig. 75. Kefl-belted Clearwing 

 (Sesia myopcefurmis). 



Fig. 76. Red-tipped Clear, 

 wing (Sesia formicceformis. 



orders appear so nearly alike. Some may say — 

 some have said — that in this resemblance there 

 is nothing worthy of being noted; it is but a freak 

 of nature, a fanciful imitation of as little conse- 



Fig. 77. Hornet Clearwing of the Poplar (Sesia apiformis). 



Fig. 78. Hornet Clearwing of the Osier (Sesia bembeciformis). 



quence as, for example, the likeness discernible 

 in the pattern on the wings of some butterflies 

 to the tracery in the flowers of the fritillary lily. 

 But I hardly venture to speak with positiveness ; 

 there is a slight plausibility in the theory pro- 



