208 



COMMON BBITISH MOTHS 



Fici, 



100.— The SaiiLL Elephant 

 Hawk Moth. 



and are smoky black along the costae, and yellow in the anal 

 angle. The body is coloured with bright rose-red, tinged with 

 olive on the foremost and hindmost segments. 



The popular name of this 

 and the following species has 

 been applied because of the 

 power which the caterpillar 

 has of extending and retract- 

 ing its front segments, a pecu- 

 liarity which has given the 

 idea of a semblance to the 

 elephant's proboscis. The 

 colour of the caterpillar is 

 light-brown or green, mottled 

 with dark-brown, dark-green, or black. It has a conspicuous eye- 

 like spot on each side of the fifth and sixth segments, and has no 

 horn. 



This larva may be foimd in July and August, feeding on species 

 of hedstrfiw {Galium verum, G. MoUiigo,{indG. j^nlustre), willow 

 herb {Epilohium Jiirsutnm), or the purple loosestrife {Lijflinrm 

 Salicaria). 



The Large Elei^liant (CJicrrocanipa Elpenor) 



This species (Plate IX, fig. 3) is very similar to the last in 

 form and markings ; but is, as its name implies, larger. 



The caterpillar, too. is \evy like that of the last species, but may 

 be distinguished from it by the possession of a short black horn, 

 tipped with white, on the ' tail.' Its coloiir is green or brown, 

 mottled and spotted with black. The eye-like spots on its fifth 

 and sixth segments are black, and each contains a brown spot 

 surrounded by a white line. 



Its chief food plants are the hairy willow herb (Epilobium 

 hirsutum), three species of bedstraw {Galinm verxim, G. MoUugo 

 and G. palustre), the purple loosestrife {Lythrum Salicaria), 

 and the enchanter's nightshade {Circcea hdetiana). It will also 

 feed on the vine and the apple in confinement. 



The Eyed Hawk {Smeriufhus Orellafus) 



Our next genus (Smerinthi(s) contains three well-known moths, 

 all of which have the hind margin of the fore wings angulated or 

 indented. 



