THE HAWK MOTHS, 633 



tlie two colours alternating most beautifully as the insect is 

 moved about. The lower wings do not possess the crimson 

 patch, but are shining green and gold, slightly glossed with 

 blue. The whole of the thorax and abdomen are green, except 

 the front of the thorax, which is fiery copper. Even in the 

 abdomen, however, a coppery gloss is visible in certain lights. 

 The hind legs are remarkable for the long tufts with which 

 they are adorned, and which are composed of much elongated 

 scales. The colour of these tufts is brown. 



Fis. 308. — Lenyra Ashtaroth. 

 (Green, gold, and oiimson.) 



Of this genus only one species is at present known, but there 

 is an allied genus, called Melitta, which very much resembles it, 

 and of which there are many species. Like Lenyra, the hind 

 legs are heavily tufted. The members of this genus are spread 

 over a large portion of the world, specimens having been 

 brought from many parts of Africa, Asia, and Southern 

 America. One of the prettiest is Melitta jJ^f-^chipes, of Vene- 

 zuela, in which the upper wings are edged with crimson, and 

 the lower are transparent. Generally, briglit colours prevail 

 throughout this genus, but there is a curious exception in 

 Melitta Enrytion, of Northern India, in which the colours are 

 simply black and white. 



The genus ]\Iacroglossa is familiar to English entomologists 

 on account of the well-known Hummino-bird Hawk iMoth, 



