656 



AN INTRODUCTION TO ENTOMOLOGY 



Some of the hawk-moths are small or of medium size; but most 

 of them are large. They have the most powerful wings of all Lepi- 



doptera in our fauna. 

 As a rule they fly in 

 the twilight, and have 

 the habit of remaining 

 poised over a flower 

 while extracting the 

 nectar, holdmg them- 

 selves in this position 

 by a rapid motion of 

 the wings. This atti- 

 tude and the whir of 

 the vibrating wings 

 give them a strong 

 resemblance to hum- 

 ming-birds, hence they 

 are sometimes called 

 humming-bird moths; 

 but they are more 

 often called hawk- 

 moths, on account 

 of their long, narrow 

 wings and strong 

 flight. 



Of all the beauti- 

 fully arrayed Lepidop- 

 tera some of the hawk- 

 moths are the most 

 truly elegant. There 

 is a high-bjed tailor- 

 made air about 

 their clear-cut wings, their closely fitted scales and their quiet but 

 exquisite colors. The harmony of the combined hues of olive and 

 tan, ochre and brown, black and yellow, and greys of every con- 

 ceivable shade, with touches here and there of rose color, is a 

 perpetual joy to the artistic eye. They seldom have vivid colors 

 except touches of yellow or pink on the abdomen or hind wings, 

 as if their fastidious tastes allowed petticoats only of brilliant colors 

 always to be worn beneath quiet-colored overdresses. 



The larvce of the Sphingidse feed upon leaves of various plants 

 and trees and are often large and quite remarkable in appearance 

 (Fig. 807). The body is cylindrical and naked and usually has a 

 horn on the eighth abdominal segment. Sometimes instead of the 

 horn there is a shiny tubercle or knob. We cannot even guess the 

 use of this horn, unless it is ornamental, for it is never provided with 

 a sting. These caterpillars when resting rear the front end of the body 

 up in the air, curl the head down in the most majestic manner, and 

 remain thus rigid and motionless for hours. When in this attitude 



Fig. 



806. — Wings of Protoparce quinquemacidata. 



