LEPIDOPTERA. 245 



ino- summer. The viscid locust-tree is sometimes almost com- 

 pletely stripped of its leaves by these insects, or presents only 

 here and there the brown and withered remains of foliage, 

 which has served as a temporary shelter to the caterpillars. 



II. HAWK-MOTHS. {S2}hi)iffcs.*) 

 Linnaeus was led to give the name of Sphinx to the insects 

 in his second group of the Lepidoptera, from a fancied resem- 

 blance that some of their caterpillars, when at rest, have to the 

 Sphinx of the Egyptians. The attitude of tliesc caterpillars 

 is indeed very remarkable. Supporting themselves by their 

 four or six hind legs, they elevate the fore part of the body, 

 and remain immovably fixed in this posture for hours together. 

 In the winged state, the true Sphinges are known by the name 

 of humming-bird moths, from the sound which they make in 

 flying, and hawk-moths, from their habit of hovering in the 

 air while taking their food. These humming-bird or hawk- 

 moths may be seen during the morning and evening twilight, 

 flying with great swiftness from flower to flower. Their wings 

 are long, narrow, and pointed, and are moved by powerful 

 muscles, to accommodate which their bodies are very thick 

 and robust. Their tongues, when uncoiled, are, for the most 

 part, excessively long, and with them they extract the honey 

 from the blossoms of the honey-suckle and other tubular 

 flowers, while on the wing. Other Sphinges fly during the 

 daytime only, and in the brightest sunshine. Then it is that 

 our large clear-winged Sesiae make their appearance among 

 the flowers, and regale themselves with their sweets. The 

 fragrant Phlox is their especial favorite. From their size and 

 form and fan-like tails, from their brilliant colors, and the man- 

 ner in which they take their food, poised upon rapidly vibrating 

 wings above the blossoms, they might readily be mistaken for 

 humming-birds. The ^gerians are also diurnal in their habits. 

 Their flight is swift, but not prolonged, and they usually alight 

 while feeding. In form and color they so much resemble bees 

 and wasps as hardly to be distinguished from them. The 



* See page 229. 



