BRITISH AXD EUROPEAN BUTTERFLIES AXD MOTHS. 



Genus Sphinx, Ochs. 



Fore wings long, narrow and pointed, with 

 the hind margins slightly rounded. The antennae 

 stout with the tip curved. The abdomen 

 tapering to a blunt point. The hind tibiae 

 with two pairs of spurs, the outer pair longer 

 than the inner. The proboscis is long and 

 horny. These moths fly about various flowers. 

 The larvae are smooth, with a rounded head 

 and a horn directed backwards. 



S. convolvuli, Linn. The Convolvulus 

 Hawk Moth. PI. XIII. fig. 2. Larva 2a. is 

 generally rather scarce in the British Isles, 

 but is found in large numbers in certain years, 

 as in 18S7. On the Continent it is widespread 

 and commoner. It is found in August and 

 September, flying about flowers, and we have 

 ourselves, at dusk, seen them m swarms, in 

 gardens near the Rhine. The caterpillar hides 

 by day, and feeds at night on species of Con- 

 volvulus and on wild balsam. The chrysalis is 

 reddish brown, with the tail darker; the sheath 

 of the proboscis projects in a large curve, and 

 the recurved end is folded back on the thorax. 



S. ligustri, Linn. The Privet Hawk IMoth. 

 PI. XIII. fig. 3. Larva PI. XIV. fig. i. Pupa 

 I a. is common in the Southern counties of 

 England, as well as on the Continent. In the 

 North of England and in the South of Scot- 

 land it is rare. It flies about tubular flowers, 

 such as jasmine and honeysuckle, at night, and 

 is frequently found in gardens in May and June. 

 The larva feeds on privet, Syringa, and Splraa, 

 from July to September. The pupa is dark 

 brown, with the proboscis-sheath lying close 

 to the breast. 



S. pinastri, Linn. The Pine Hawk Moth. 

 PI. XIV. fig. 2. Larva 2 a. Tliis moth is al- 

 most confined to the fir woods of Suffolk in 

 England, though it has been met with very 

 rarely in other parts of the country. It is 

 common throughout the greater part of the 

 Continent, and frequents pine woods in May, 

 being found sitting on tree-trunks. The larva 

 feeds in July and August on fir and pine. 



Genus Deilephila, Ochs. 



Proboscis much shorter than in Sphinx. 

 The wings somewhat raised when the insect 

 is at rest. Larvae cylindrical, tapering towards 

 the head, with ocellated spots on the sides. 



They undergo their metamorphoses between 

 leaves and moss on the ground. Pupae without 

 a proboscis-sheath. The insect often remains 

 two years in pupa before emerging. 



D. vespertilio, Esp. Fore wings unico- 

 lorous bluish grey, slightly whitish at the base, 

 and with a small black and white spot in the 

 middle. Hind wings flesh-colour, with a marginal 

 black band, very narrowly bordered outside 

 with flesh-colour. Under side of the fore 

 wings greyish brown, ligliter in the middle, 

 hind wings flesh-colour. Antennae white above, 

 brownish beneath. Tegulae not bordered with 

 white. Abdomen with no white spots above, 

 but with three alternating white and black spots 

 on the sides. It is found in Southern Tyrol 

 and Switzerland. The larva is ashy grey, 

 slightly tinged with green, and varied with 

 black and brown, with two flesh-coloured 

 spots on all the segments except the first and 

 last. Head bluish-grey. Sides and belly pale 

 rosy grey ; legs rosy, stigmata yellow. There 

 is no horn. It feeds on Epilohium rosmarinifoUum 

 in June and September. 



D. hippophaes, Esp. Fore wings pale 

 grey; base dusky; a black mark like a note 

 of interrogation near the centre of the costa; 

 outer portion of the wings with the usual dark 

 green stripe, bounded by the grey hind margin, 

 but the inner side of this is clearly defined 

 by a nearly straight line. Hind wings black, 

 with a central red band, having a white spot 

 at the anal angle; hind margins broadly red. 

 The moth is found in the South of France 

 and Switzerland and in South Europe gene- 

 rally. The caterpillar is dark green, with white 

 lateral lines and an orange horn. It feeds on 

 Hippophae fhamnoides in August and September. 



D. galii, Rott. The Madder Hawk Moth. 

 PI. XIV. fig. 4. Larva 4a. Pupa 4b. is on the 

 wing from May to August, and is found in 

 many parts of Britain, especially near the coast, 

 but is rare with us, although the commonest 

 of our three species. The larva feeds on Galium 

 and Euphorbia in August and September. 



D. euphorbiae, Linn. The Spurge Hawk 

 Moth. PL XIV. fig. 3. Larva 3a. appears in 

 May and August, and is extremely rare in 

 England, though common on the Continent. 

 The caterjiillar feeds on species of Euphorbia 

 in July and August. 



