C|e faabinn ^nt0m0l0gisi 



VOL. XVIII. LONDON, JULY, 1886. No. 7 



PROF. FERNALD'S SPHINGID^ OF NEW ENGLAND. 



BY A. R. GROTE, A. M., BREMEN, GERMANY. 



This very carefully written pamphlet brings us quite a step forward in 

 our knowledge of the structure of our Hawk Moths. In the first place, 

 it may be doubted whether the divisions of the Sphingidae, first laid down 

 in their present shape in Grote & Robinson's Synonymical Catalogue 

 (1865), are not of lower rank than sub-families, but as all our divisions 

 are based on comparative characters, this point need not detain us long. 

 I had diligently searched the literature for older terms for these groups, 

 finding them in part, but they were not adopted by Butler, and the terms 

 of our Catalogue of 1865 with a sub-family ending seem to be preferred. 

 I commenced with the Macroglossinse, because these genera more re- 

 semble the Hesperid^e in their frequent diurnal flight, pupation on the 

 ground between leaves with a few threads of silk, and in the more pris- 

 matic antennae. Our genera are Hemaris, Aellopos, Eupi-oserpinus and 

 Lepisesia, with entire wings. I never was so fortunate as to possess any 

 specimens of the genera Lepisesia or Pogocolon. Twelve years after 

 describing Lipisesia from a specimen in Coll. Phil. Ent. Soc, another 

 species of Lepisesia was sent me for determination from Cambridge, 

 where accordingly my type of L. Victorice now is. This species is said 

 to be the same as Boisduval's Pogocolon Clarkice, unknown to me. We 

 have then at least two species of Lepisesia. I only know Abbot's figure 

 of Gaurce ; this represents a species with angulated wings, looking a Httle 

 like the European CEiiotheroe. In the Central Park Coll. is or was a 

 specimen belonging to Mr. Robinson, brought by Mr. Ridings from 

 Georgia. I thought, after only casually examining it, that it might be an 

 allied species or a variety ; but I never had it in my possession long 

 enough to study. Nor do I know any of Mr. Hy. Edwards' species. 

 Whether these are true Pogocolon, or whether this genus is distinct from 

 Lepisesia (which is much the older term), I cannot at all say. But having 



