208 



COMMON BRITISH MOTHS 



side. The horn is yellowish and rongh, and is bent downward, but 

 recurved again at the tip. 



It feeds during the night, and remains hidden throughout the 

 daytime. In August it is fully grown, and then retires into the 

 ground to imdergo its transformations. 



The Privet Haivh {Sphinx Ligustri) 



This is another fine moth, measuring nearly four and a half 

 inches from tip to tip. It is represented in the centre of Plate IX 

 in its natural colours, so that it need not be described. 



Fk;. 98. — Thk Lakva of AxRoros. 



The perfect insect flies in June and July, and, although common, 

 is not frequently seen at large. The larvae, however, are to be met 

 with in abundance in privet hedges. Even in the centres of large 

 towns we may see them resting on the topmost twigs of a privet 

 hedge, their beautiful green tint closely resembling that of the 

 surrounding leaves. After a little experience they may be readily 

 discerned hj a careful observer, but there are certain signs by which 

 their presence may be proved before ih.ey have been actually 

 seen. Sometimes a number of the twigs ai'e completely stripped 

 of their leaves, even the midribs and the leaf stalks being almost 



