78 ON SOME LEPIDOPTEROUS LARV^ 



has it very largely developed in the young larva, and 

 strongly forked at the end, whilst it becomes single and 

 proportionately shorter before the larva has completed its 

 growth. This forked character of the horn in some of the 

 yonng larvae shows the relationship of the sphinx moths to 

 the great group of Bombyces, for tlie young larva of Aglia 

 tail also possesses a forked horn in the same position. In 

 the spirit specimen of a larva from Buenos Ayres which I 

 have, and for which I am indebted to the kindness of Mr. 

 Charbonnier, it will be seen that there is no horn, but simply 

 a round mark. If we could examine the young larva of this 

 species, I have no doubt we should see a well-developed 

 horn. The larva appears to belong to the genus Philcmi- 

 peliis^ and I find that the young caterpillars of several 

 species of this genus possess it, whilst the full-grown ones 

 are hornless. As the life of the individual larva is a short 

 compendium of the history of the species, we gather that 

 the horn of the Sphinges is a disappearing organ, gradually 

 suffering elimination. Another remarkable species of the 

 Hawk Moth group which shows strong relationship to 

 Bombyx is Ceratomia amyntor^ an American moth, the 

 front segments of which bear four prominences or horns, 

 clearly analogous to the species of some of the larger silk 

 moths. The moth is common in America, and I have several 

 times endeavoured to obtain eggs from there, but in vain 

 up to the present time. I am certain that if this species 

 were reared from the egg, its earlier stages would have a 

 tale to tell of no common interest with regard to the an- 

 cestry of the Hawk Moths. 



Another very striking larva which I have on two occa- 

 sions reared from the egg, only unfortunately to lose nearly 

 all my specimens when full grown, is Endroynis versicolora^ 

 the Kentish Glory Moth. This, though a Bombyx, has a 



