114 HAUSTELLATA. — LEPIDOPTERA. . 



Some specimens liave a dot on one wing and a fascia on the other : in colour 



they vary greatly. 

 Caterpillar variable, rugose: slender anteriorly, green or brown with obUque 



red or yellow streaks on its sides: it feeds on the lime (Tilia europaea), elm 



(Ulnms campestris), alder ( Betida AlnusJ, birch ( Betula alba J, and oak 



CQucrcKs Robur). The pupa is dirty brown. 



Not a very abundant species ; occurring, however, tolerably fre- 

 quent near Hertford, Fulbam, Richmond, Coombe-wood, on Ep- 

 ping-forest, &c. It usually makes its appearance towards the end 

 of May; but I once took a remarkably fine specimen on the 19th 

 July, and last August 1 bred one that was taken in the larva state 

 in July previous near Ripley. " Near Exeter, Ashburton, and 

 Spithweek, Devon." — Dr. Leach. " Plentiful at Bottisham." — ■ 

 Rev. L. Jcnijns. " Once near York." — W. C. Hezvitson, Esq. 

 « Kimpton in May last."— Eft;. G. T. Rudd. 



Genus XXIV. — Acherontia, Ochsenheimer. 



Antennce short, very gradually and slightly thickened from the base nearly to the 

 apex, uncinated, the hook temtiinating in a long hairy seta : jMlpi not con- 

 tiguous, appUed close to the head, naked inwardly, densely clothed with hair 

 outwardly : maxiUa; very short, robust : head large : wings entire, the posterior 

 slightly emarginated : cilia very short : body obtuse, densely clothed with short 

 velvety pile. Catc7-pillar naked, with oblique lateral stripes, the anal horn 

 tuberculated, deflexed, curved at the tip : pupa smooth, subterraneous. 



Acherontia has very short robust maxillse, but nevertheless consi- 

 derably longer than those of the preceding genus, from which it is 

 instantly known by the integrity of its wings ; from Sphinx and 

 Deilephila the former character separates it, as well as the superior 

 robustness of its body — which is densely clothed with a velvety pile 

 — and the brevity and stoutness of its antennae. The larva also 

 differs considerably from that of the other genera, especially in the 

 caudal appendage. 



Sp 1. Atropos. Alis anticis fuscis, nigra Juteoque variis, puncto centrali albido, 

 posticis luteis, fasciis duabus nigris, abdomine luteo cingulis lineaque donali 

 atris. (Exp. alar. $ 4 unc. 4 — 8 lin. : ? 4 unc. 10 lin. — 5 unc. 1 Un.) 



Sp. Atropos. Linni}. — Ac. Atropos. Curtis, iv. pi. 147. — Steph. Catal. 



This magnificent insect is unquestionably the largest of the European Lepi- 

 doptera : its anterior wings are brown, varied with black and luteous, with 

 some ferruginous dashes towards the ti}), and a central whitish spot; they are 

 thickly irrorated throughout with whitish : the posterior wings are luteous, 

 with two black, or deep brown, bands, the outer one broadest, and emarginatc 



