the Zygaenides : of the first there are no examples natives of Britain, 

 indeed 1 believe it is an extra-European family ; of the 2nd we pos- 

 sess all the genera, and of the 3rd some account will be found at 

 folio 53 of this work. 



The Sphingidaj are distinguished from the Zygsenidce by the very 

 small 3rd joint of the labial palpi, which are robust and thickly 

 clothed with scales, and by the uncinated apex of their antennae. 

 The caterpillars have either a tail or a tubercle at the extremity of 

 the back, are perfectly naked ; and with the exception of a few which 

 cover themselves with leaves, always descend into the earth to change 

 to pupae. 



The following genera compose the family of Sphingidae as it now 

 stands, viz. : Smerinthus, Acherontia, Sphinx, Deilephila, Macro- 

 glossum, and Sesia; the 2nd has been already described at folio 147, 

 the 3rd at folio 195, the 6th at folio 40; and having observed that 

 Deilephila (a genus proposed and established by Ochsenheimer in 

 the Schmetterlinge von Europa, and signifying Lovers of Even- 

 ing) may be distinguished from the true Sphinx by its shorter and 

 subclavate antennas, and from Macroglossum by its acuminated and 

 conical abdomen, we shall proceed to describe the species that are 

 natives of this country, and to give some account of them. 



1. D. Celerio Linn. St/st. Nat. v. 1. pars 2. p. 800. n. 12. — Haiu. Lep. Brit. 6i. 7. — 



Don. Brit. Ins. 6. 190 ^- 191. 



Light brown, abdomen very long and attenuated, with a double white line 

 down the back and an interrupted one on each side. Superior wings 

 with an oblique silvery line extending from the interior margin to the apex, 

 the nervures silvery also : inferior wings rosy, tlie nervures black, a broad 

 black band in the middle and a narrow fimbria near the margin. 



The silver -striped Hawk-moth is one of the rarest of our British 

 insects ; the 1 st specimen captured was recorded by Harris, who 

 says, it was taken in Bunhill Fields the latter end of July 1779, 

 and that it was given to the late Mr. Francillon. Donovan states 

 that Mr. Latham, formerly of Dartford, has a specimen which was 

 taken at Eltham in Kent. In the collection that I purchased of 

 Mr. Plastead was a specimen that there is little doubt was a native 

 one: and my friend Mr. M. Haughton found one trodden upon in 

 the King's Road, Chelsea; Mr. Fuseli (the late Professor of Paint- 

 ing), who was vvith him at the time, having decidedly stated that it 

 was the Vine Hawk-moth. A caterpillar was found some years 

 since in a garden near Wisbeach, by Dr. Skrimshire ; and I saw 

 two alive found in a garden at Norwich, the Sth of October 1810, 

 which, if not the larvae of this species, were unknown to me; they 

 changed to pupae, but died. The caterpillars feed upon the Vine 

 and Galium verum. Godart says that they change to chrysalides 

 early in August, and sometimes the moth appears 4 or 5 weeks after, 

 and at other times not till the following June. It is rare about 

 Paris and to the North, but common enough in the South. 



2. p. lineata Fab. Ent. St/st. v. 3. pars l.p. 368. n. 39. ~ Haiu. Lep. Brit. 60. 6. — 



Don. 6. 204. 1. — Daucus Cram. 



2 



