( 447 ) 



LIST OF TUE SPIIINGIDAE COLLECTED BY THE LATE 

 W. HOFFMANNS AT ALLIANCA, RIO MADEIRA, 



AMAZONAS. 



By TUE Hon. L. W. ROTHSCHILD and K. JORDAN. 



WHEN out collecting one night in November lODT at Allianca, which lies a 

 short distance below S. Antonio, Rio Madeira, the late 'Wiilieliu lIolT- 

 luanus ]passed a locality which is under water dnring the wet season, but at that 

 time of the year was dry, except lor some pools of water in the depressions of the 

 ground. His attention was arrested by a number of moths liovering over the 

 pools. Tlic moths iiroved to be !S[ihingidae, and W. Iloffinauiis at once started to 

 make good use of the oi)portunity accidentally discovered. He visited the locality 

 almost night after night, often staying nearly till daybreak in the very unhealthy 

 ])lace, and thus obtained a remarkably good collection of about 250U specimens of 

 Hawkmoths during .several weeks of night-collecting in November and December. 

 The following extract (translated) from Hoffmanns's letter refers to this collection : — 

 "November 25, 1007. — Allianca lies on high ground on the eastern side of the 

 Rio Madeira above the mouth of the Rio Jamary. This ' terra firma' is traversed 

 by a narrow swamp, called ' JapiJr.' When out there one night at li o'clock I 

 observed Sphingidae over the jwols, and since then I have been very busy every 

 night catching Hawkmoths. So far J have obtained about loDt) specimens, but 

 hope to get 2000. All have to be caugiit with the net, and I liave been at it every 

 night as late as 1, 2, or 3 o'clock. When the sun rises all must be put out to 

 dry. It means a very great deal of work. 1 must remain with the specimens, 

 as there are many enemies here who would play havoc among them, above all 

 the rain, which may descend any minute, then pigs, fowls, mules, auts, etc. My 

 weight is now as low as 114 pounds, and I have always a little fever, probably 

 owing to the dampness in the swamp. This being the tirst time during all 

 my travels that I have met with such an oi)poi'tunity, I am so enthusiastic that 

 nothing will prevent me from going on with the work, althongh my legs ache from 

 jumping about so much. Of course, I am obliged to catch every specimen, as it is 

 imi)ossible to recognize anything on the wing and in t he darkness. 1 get conse [uently 

 of many species long series. The collection, no donbt, will interest yon, and 1 

 should be very glad if you found good species in it. There are but few butterflies 

 here. No trace of I'apiUo hahueli. 



" 2\ovi'mhcr 2<i. — The rain has interrni)tcd collecting. To-day 1 obtained for the 

 first time a splendid specimen of one of the larger species.* It is really an KIdorado 

 for Sphingidae. Unfortunately I cannot stay here much longer. The steamer 

 which is to take me down to Marraellos leaves on December (j-!S. But collecting 

 is over here anyhow. The water in the depression in the groiuid begins to rise, and 

 in January canoes pass along there from the Uio Jamary to the Rio Madeira. 



" JJeccmher 2. — The collection of Sphingidae has continued to increase. I have 

 found a second specimen of the brilliant fellow.* Yesterday and to-day were 

 sunny. It is a serious matter that the Sphingidae drink so much water and dry 



* Ortjha hadeni, see Iso. 17 of tlie list. 



