AN ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF HORTICULTURE, 
Sphenodesma—continued. 
S, Jackiana (Jack’s). A synonym of S, pentandra. 
S. pentandra (five-anthered). Jl. six in a head; corolla purple, 
the tube equalling the calyx, the throat white and very hairy; 
panicle ample, leafy below ; peduncles filiform. June. L shortly 
petiolate, oblong, obtuse at base, attenuated-acuminate, highly 
glabrous and shining above, pubescent beneath. h. 6ft. East 
India, 1823. Syn. S. Jackiana. 
SPHENOGYNE. Included under Ursinia (which see), 
SPHENOTOMA. Included under Dracophyllum 
(which see). 
SPHEROIDAL. Approaching a sphere in shape. 
SPHINGIDZ (Hawk Moths). A family of Moths of 
very distinct and striking aspect, characterised by the 
thick, heavy body, and long, pointed wings, which are 
moved by powerful muscles. This allows of very rapid 
flight, except in a few (Smerinthus), in which the wings 
are broader, but weaker, and flight is slow and heavy. 
The moths are large, certain species, e.g., Death’s Head 
Moths, being among the largest of British insects. The 
antenne are usually thicker in the middle, and end in a 
hooked bristle. The larvæ are generally peculiar in form, 
being rather thick, tapering from a little in front of the 
middle towards the head, but cut off abruptly behind, 
where a curved “horn” is present just above the blunt 
hinder end. Most of the larve are ornamented with 
Seven oblique coloured lines on the sides. Those of 
several species have a habit of drawing back the head 
into the segments just behind it, and assume an attitude 
fancifully supposed to resemble the Egyptian Sphinx ; 
and from this habit the family name has been derived. 
The popular name of “ Hawk Moths” refers to their swift- 
ness of flight. They mostly fly in the dusk of evening 
and of early morning; but one, the Humming Bird Moth, 
flies by day. Several of the species feed, as larve, upon 
garden produce, or on bushes and trees. Acherontia 
Atropos (formerly called Sphinx Atropos), the Death’s 
Fie. 512. Dearn’s HEAD Hawk Moru (Acherontia Atropos). 
Head Hawk Moth (see Fig. 512), feeds almost entirely on 
Potatoes (see remarks on Insects, under Potato), less 
often on Jasmine and the Tea-tree; but the larva, though 
very large, is not often seen, because of its habit of 
a only in darkness, concealing itself in the soil by 
y. 
The Hawk Moths that feed on cultivated trees and 
shrubs are the following: The Eyed Hawk Moth (Smerin- 
thus ocellatus), on Apple and other fruit-trees, as well 
as m Willows, Poplars, &c. The moth reaches about 
n. in spread of wings, and is easily known by the 
471 
Sphingide—continued. 
rosy-brown wings, clouded with olive-brown markings, 
` and especially by a large, bluish, eye-like spot on each 
hind wing near the hind angle. The larva is green, 
with a blue horn; the seven oblique stripes on each 
side are white, edged with dark green above. The 
Poplar Hawk Moth (S. Populi) lives on Poplars and 
Willows, and on Laurel and Laurustinus. The moth 
reaches about 3in. across the wings, which are grey, 
with darker bands and a white dot in the middle of 
each fore wing, and a red patch at the base of each 
hind wing. The larva is green, sprinkled with yellow; . 
the horn is yellow above, redder beneath; and the 
oblique stripes on the sides are yellow. This insect is 
the most plentiful of the family. The Lime Hawk 
Moth (S. Tiliw) is less common. The moth reaches 
from 2}in. to. 3in. across the wings. The fore wings have 
the outer edge a good deal indented; they are pale 
reddish or olive-brown, with a broad, greenish outer 
border, and a dark olive-green band across the middle, 
often broken so as to form two spots. The hind wings 
are blackish at the base, brown elsewhere, with a darker 
band across each. The larva feeds on Limes and Elm- 
trees. It is green, sprinkled with yellow dots, and the 
oblique stripes are yellowish, sometimes edged with red; 
the horn is blue above, yellow beneath, and behind it is 
a flat, purple scale edged with orange. The Privet Hawk 
Moth (Sphinx Ligustri) feeds on Privet and Lilac, and 
is common in the southern counties of England. The 
fore wings often exceed 4in. in spread, and are more 
pointed and narrower than in those insects already men- 
tioned; they are pale brown, clouded with darker brown, 
and streaked with black; the hind wings are rosy-red, 
with three black cross-bars. The larva is bright green; 
the horn is black above and at the tip, and yellow 
beneath ; the oblique streaks on the sides are white 
behind, delicate purple in front; the skin is smooth. The 
large Elephant Hawk Moth (Chero- 
campa elpenor) feeds on Willowherb, 
Fuchsia, and Vine. The moth reaches 
2łin. in spread of the fore wings, 
which are pointed, and are olive-green, 
with pink outer and front margins, 
and two pink, oblique cross-bars; the 
base of each hind wing is black, and 
the rest of it pink. The larva is green, 
dark grey, or brown, with black mot- 
tlings. On each side of the fifth and 
sixth rings of the body is a large black 
patch, inclosing a white, kidney-shaped 
spot, the whole resembling an eye. 
The horn is short and black, with the 
tip white; the front rings of the 
body are narrowed and retractile, and 
when they are retracted the form of 
the larva has been fancifully compared 
to an elephant’s head, the spots men- 
tioned above resembling the eyes. This 
moth is common in many places. 
Remedies. The only remedy neces- 
sary is hand-picking the larve, if they 
become so numerous as to require it. 
Their large size renders them easily 
seen, though their colours usually 
assimilate well with those of their food-plants. The 
larve of A. Atropos require to be looked for with a 
lantern at night, as they hide in the soil by day. The 
larvæ of almost all the Hawk Moths go underground to 
become pup, and little can be done to diminish the 
number of pupæ, or of perfect insects. The pup» of 
A. Atropos are occasionally found when Potatoes are 
being harvested in gardens and in fields. 
SPHINX ATROPOS. ‘ce Sphingide. 
SPICATE. Resembling a spike; disposed in spikes. 
