LEPIDOrXEKA. 251 



Of the h Of -caterpillars, those of Charocampa Chcerilus and 

 versicolor may be found on swamp pinks [Azalea viscosa and 

 nmUjIora). The caterpillar of the white-lined morning Sphinx 

 [DeilephUa liacata) feeds upon purslane and turnip leaves; and 

 that of DeilephUa Chanucnerii on the willow-herb [Epilobium 

 aiii^Kstifoliinn). The clear-winged Sphinges, Sesia pelasg-us 

 and (li(/inis, are distinguished by their transparent wings and 

 their fan-shaped tails. They hover over flowers, like humming- 

 birds, during the daytime, in the months of July and August. 

 Their caterpillars bear a general resemblance to those of the 

 genus Sphinx, and, as far as they are known, seem to possess 

 the same habits. 



The ^Egerians (^geriad.e) constitute a very distinct group 

 among the Sphinges. They are easily recognized, in the per- 

 fected or winged state, by their resemblance to bees, hornets, 

 or wasps, by their narrow wings, which are mostly transparent, 

 and by the tufts or brush at the end of the body, which they 

 have the power of spreading out like a fan at pleasure. They 

 fly only in the daytime, and frequently alight to bask in the 

 sunshine. Their habits, in the caterpillar state, are entirelj'' 

 different from those of the other Sphinges; the latter living 

 exposed upon plants whose leaves they devour, while the 

 caterpillars of the ^gerians are concealed within the stems 

 or roots of plants, and derive their nourishment from the wood 

 and pith. Hence they are commonly called borers, a name, 

 however, which is equally applicable to the larvae or young of 

 many insects of other orders. The caterpillars of the vEgeri- 

 ans are whitish, soft, and slightly downy. Like those of other 

 Sphinges they have sixteen feet, but they are destitute of a 

 thorn or prominence on the last segment of the body. When 

 they have come to their full size, they enclose themselves in 

 oblong oval cocoons, made of fragments of wood or bark 

 cemented by a gummy matter, and within these are trans- 

 formed to chrysalids. The latter are of a shining bay color, 

 and the edges of the abdominal segments are armed with 

 transverse rows of short teeth. By means of these little teeth, 

 the chrysalis, just before it is about to be transformed to a 

 winged insect, works its way out of the cocoon, and partly 



