males of the latter ; and their uncinated apex is very diffe- 

 rent ; the larvae also of Deilephila afford a distinct character 

 in the singular power they possess of elongating (like a Leech) 

 the anterior portion of their bodies. 

 The following species of this fine genus are recorded as British. 



1. S. Flnastri Lirm. — Do7i. 9. 296. — Sepj). v. l.t.5. — June: 

 Trunks of Pines, Colney Hatch near London, and Ravelston 

 wood near Edinburgh. 



2. S. Ligustri L. — Do7i. 8. 284. — Sepp. v. 1. t. 3 and 4. 

 End of June: Gardens, on Privet, Lilac, Elder, Ash, &c. 



S. S. ConvolvuUi..— Z)o«. 7.228 fl«f£ 229.— Middle and end 

 of September and October : several in Norfolk in 1811. A 

 pair were taken last year by Mr. C. J. Thompson, flying about 

 the Marvel of Peru, at Fulham; and others were captured at 

 the garden of the Hoi ticultural Society. 



4. S. Druraei Doii. 14. 469. — Taken near London about 

 fifty years since, and carried alive to the late Mr. Drury. 



5. S. 5-maculatus Haw. 59. 3. — Mr. Drury possessed a 

 specimen, and Mr. Haworth has another, both taken near the 

 Water Works at Chelsea ; and Mr. Atkinson of Leeds show- 

 ed me a beautiful one, bred from the Caterpillar in that neigh- 

 bourhood by Mr. Wilson. 



6. S. Carolina. A pair were taken by Mr. Thompson (a 

 friend of Mr.. Plastead's), the 28th August 1796, at West 

 Cowes, Isle of Wight, which we are so fortunate as to pos- 

 sess. The female figured is of the natural size ; but the other 

 one expands five inches. In Mr. Vigors's Cabinet is a speci- 

 men of this or the last, which was certainly found alive in this 

 country also. 



As the Caterpillar of our insect (a figui'e of which is given, 

 as well as the following extract, from Dr. Smith's Insects of 

 Georgia) feeds upon the Polatoe, its appearance in this country 

 is easily accounted for. " It feeds (says Mr. Abbot) upon 

 Tobacco, Irish Potatoes [Solanum tuberosion P), Red Pepper 

 {Capsicum P), &c. It went into the ground June 19th, and 

 came out 15th July; another went in the 8th July, and came 

 out 1st August. The Caterpillar is a great nuisance to the 

 plantations of tobacco, the cultivators being obliged to pick 

 them carefully off the young plants. The Moth is very com- 

 monly seen in an evening, sucking the James-town weed (Mi- 

 rahilis P) and Gourd blossoms, and continues breeding all the 

 summer. There is i-eason to suspect two species of this fly; 

 at least a great variety of colours is observable in both sexes." 



The Caterpillar so much resembles that of S. Ligustri, that 

 it might easily be passed by for it, although many differences 

 are visible on comparison, particularly the absence of the lilac 

 stripes, which add so greatly to the beauty of the larva of the 

 Privet Sphh)x. 



