36 DONALDSON BODINE. 



structural features and in general appearance from all others of the 

 group. Mr. Butler* expressed the view that the Sesiidse in their 

 antennal characters are closely allied to the Pyralids and Tineids, 

 and not at all to the Sphinxes, especially to the genus Hemaris. He 

 believes that they should be placed between the Pyralids and the 

 Tineids. Every feature he mentions, however, as characteristic of 

 the Sesiidse, and not found in the genus Hemaris can be paralleled 

 in the Sphingidse, even in the genus Hemaris. Hemaris hovihyli- 

 formis was used by him for the comparison. I have not seen that 

 species, but Hemaris thysbe presents the very characters he describes 

 and figures in Sphecia, except that in both cases the "pencil of rigid 

 hairs" is really composed of rigid scales. Lord Walsingham has 

 already pointed out that Mr. Butler was mistaken in his description 

 of the similarity of structures in the Tineids and Sesiids ; and we 

 cannot adopt the view that the antennae indicate that the proper 

 position of the Sesiids is between the Pyralids and the Tineids. The 

 close resemblance in structure and form in the antennse of the 

 Sesiids and the Sphinxes certainly points to a genetic relationship. 

 The large, compressed ventral expansion, the fusiform or clavate 

 shape, the peculiar distribution of sense-hairs of the third type, tlie 

 relative size, development, and position of the cones, the tuft of long, 

 slender, rigid scales, projecting from tlie distal segment, the character 

 of the chitin surface, are all features connnon to both the Sesiids and 

 Sphinxes, and no other forms known to me possess the wliole com- 

 bination of characters. The condition of the Sesiids' antennie is less 

 highly specialized than we find it among the Sphinges; the speciali- 

 zation does not differ materially in extent from that of the other 

 Microfrenata), but it has ))roceeded further in certain directions ; so, 

 while the family is proj)erly classed with the Microfrenatie, I believe 

 it at the same time represents an ofiTshoot of the branch which later 

 on gave, rise to the Sphingidse. Figs. 49 and 46 represent segments 

 of the clavolas of Sannina exitiosa and Daremma undulosa. Note 

 that the arrangement of the sense-hairs of the third type on the wide, 

 compressed, ventral expansion in Sannina is further developed in 

 Daremma till there is a large semicircle, within which there are sense- 

 organs. 



The e is of course a possibility that the great similarity of appear- 

 ance, and-' even of structure of an organ may arise from similarity 

 in environment and in the conditions of life, but in the case of the 



» Trans. Ent. Soc. London, 1878. p. 121. 



