(22) 



SPHINGIDAE. 



2. Phlegethontius stuarti Hothscb. sp. iiov. 



Ujyperside : forewings gre^'ish white, with a strong ypHow wash which makes 

 them have the colour of ground mustard seed. On the discoeelhilars is a white 

 stigma surrounded by a black ring; obliquely between this and the costa is a smaller 

 stigma, also surrounded by a black ring. At the base of wings are three black dots, 

 one before costa and two behind it, the two latter including a white dot between 

 themselves. Between base and stigmata are four zigzag transverse black lines, 

 which converge behind till before inner margin two amalgamate, leaving only three. 

 Beyond the stigmata are three black lines which are strongly dentated ; the space 

 between the outer two is much paler than between the first and second. Between 

 the outer of these three lines and the outer margin are two rows of irregular anchor- 

 shaped spots, one quite close to the outer margin, the other half-way between it 

 and the dentated lines. The outer margin is very distinctly and strongly marked 

 in alternate black and white spots. Kound the area of the stigmata the wings are 

 more or less clouded with black scales. Hiudwings same ground-colour as forewings, 

 but darker, especially in costal and apical area. In the hairy basal region is a black 

 band, cut short posteriorly, where it is followed by a square whitish spot. There are 

 three black dentated bands across outer half of wing, terminating at anal angle, the 

 inner one of which is sometimes double, and stands closer to the second than that 

 does to the third. Outer margin equally distinctly marked as in forewings. 



Underside: all four wings grey, with yellow tinge much feebler. Basal half of 

 forewings darker. Apical half of both pairs of wings crossed by three zigzag dentate 

 black lines. 



Head above lavender-grey, a spot on either side in front of eye black ; paljii 

 almost maize-yellow. Thorax above same colour as wings ; two small black dots 

 behind head, followed by two transverse lines (interrupted or complete), two black 

 dots in centre, and one on each side above base of wings. 



Abdomen darker, except middle of first two segments above and whole underside ; 

 down the centre of abdomen above run two rows of white sjjots at the hind edges 

 of segments. On each side of second segment is a black patch, and on the five 

 following ones an ochraceous rufous (^aot yelloxo) patch, partly surrounded by black. 

 The last patch is small in the male and practically absent in i\ic femrile. 

 Expanse : forewing AM 53 mm. ; EM 29 mm. ; PM 31 mm. 

 hindwing „ 32 „ ; „ 21 „ : ,.19 „ 



Hah. La I'az, Bolivia (Arthur Maxwell Stuart, Octolicr 1895); 2 J, 1 ?. 



The pecidiar mossy ajjpearance of the scales and the greenish yellow ground- 

 colour are such that, when the wings are closed and the insect is at rest, it must be 

 practically impo.ssible to distinguish it from yellowish lichens. W. R. 



3. Theretra crossei Kothsch. .■^p. nov. 



This is most closely allied to T. lucasi Wlk. and its hulo-Australian allies, but I 

 must describe is as distinct, for I have two specimens identical, and it comes from 

 West Africa. 



Differs from lucasi Wlk. by the conspicuous convex outer margin and the much 

 rounded inner angle. Between the margin and the row of black dots on the veins 



