( Ixxxv ) 



liolil good also in tlie case of tlie cnjnilatory oi'saus of the female sex, with the 

 exception of the differences being uiore often iiisiguificant (qnantitatively) or 

 apparently absent. This is due to the vaginal armature being on the whole 

 not so strongly chitioised, and therefore offering, where more or less mem- 

 branaceous, far less obvious differences than in the case of the stronger-chitinised 

 male organs. However, there is an abundance of species, especially among 

 Sphing'ulae asemanophonte, in which the sexual armature of the female jiresents 

 very striking characters (PI. XVll. f. 1. 2. 3), and the differences between the 

 species, where these organs are less complicated, become in most instances also 

 apparent when the structures are closely coaij)ared. 



While the organs of copulation of the male can be dissected from the body 

 without destroying the seventh and eighth segments or cutting oti' the hinder 

 part of the abdomen, it is necessary to remove the seventh to tenth segments 

 of the female in order to relax them, and then draw tiiem apart, which can 

 be done with the help of a pin. The vaginal armature lying hidden in a cave 

 in most species must be pushed outside by pressure from the inside to become 

 plainly visible. 



The ninth and tenth segments are fused into one (/A '+ A', PI. XIX. f. 11. 12) 

 and covered with bristles of various length, whirh are doubtless sensory in 

 function. Between the two halves of tiiis double segment lies the anus, and 

 ventrally of the anus the aperture of the oviduct. The segment is always short 

 in Sphinyidae, and there is no ovipositor. The vagina has tiie same position 

 as in other Lepidoptera — namely, between the seventh and eigiith sternites. 

 The vaginal area is more or less snnhen between the two segments, but not 

 always — the vaginal orifice of Coo/tins, for instance, lying on a level witli the 

 seventh sternite, and being plainly visilile after the removal of some scales. 

 The vaginal orifice is surrounded by more or less obvious folds, ridges, processes, 

 grooves, whicli are doubtless adapted to the cdasping-organs of the male. The 

 orifice is mesial and central, sometimes more proximal, sometimes more distal. 

 In the species with asymmetrical male clasi)ing-organs it is sjiifted towards the 

 left side (Pi. XLI. f. 1 — 3). The armature of the vagina is also asymmetrical 

 in Ckuds bicolor (PI. XVI. f. 7), of which the male is not known, and in 

 Hippotion li/cetus (PI. XLI. f 17), the male armature of which is symmetrical. 

 It is perhaps necessary to add that the armature is never absolutely symmetrical 

 in either male or female, the two sides ditfering ?'«fe/- se just as much as one 

 individual does from anotlier, and the apex of tlie penis-sheath being seldom 

 the same right and left. 



The vaginal area is generally naked, the scaling being restricted to the 

 more or less completely membranaceons eighth sternite. But in some species 

 the scaling extends into the vaginal cavity (PI. XXI. f 12. 15). We find also 

 occasionally species which have the vaginal armature provided witii dispersed 

 (sensory ?) hairs (PI. XX. f. 22). 



The part of tiie vaginal area in front of the oritice is termed in tliis Revision 

 antevagi nal plate, and the posterior part postcin/itud jdatc. 



