( cxxxv ) 



early period of the history of Spliinyidae, since otherwise an interchange of the 

 widely distributed genera, like the Old World Philampeli?iae : Dcilepkila and 

 Nephele, and the New World Sesiinae : Pseudosphinx, Erinm/is, Pachi/lia, etc., 

 wonld have been the nnavoidahle consequence of the presence of some kind of 

 geographical bridge lietwecn tropical West and East. In the Choerocampinac 

 we have again a similar kind of distribntion. The Neotropical Region has only 

 the genus Xj/lophanes, besides the cosmopolitan Celerio and a derivation from 

 Xjjlopfianes. All the eleven Old World generalised and specialised genera have 

 been debarred from entering the New World, though they are quick flyers and 

 mostly of wide distribution ; and the Neotropical genus Xi/hphain'A, tliougli very 

 generalised, has no representative in tlie Eastern Hemisphere. 



Tlie aiSnity wliich exists between the Neotropical Region and the Tropics 

 of the Old World is geologically remote, but phylogenetically close. Tl:e 

 distinction between close blood-relationship in the faunae which means recent 

 geographical connection, and close blood-relationship whicli indicates remote 

 geographical relation of the countries, which distinction is clearly demonstrated 

 by the distribution of the Sji/iingidac, is of the highest importance in studies of 

 geographical distribution. The distinction is entirely effaced and the student led 

 astray, if the genera are not studied and defined with the view of giving in the 

 classification adequate expression to the phylogeny of the family. 



We divide tlie SpJiiiitji(/<ie into the following gionps: — 



A. Spliiiujidae ((semanophorar. — p. 3. 



Subfamily Ac heron t i i nac .— p. 4. 



Tribe Acherontiicae. — ]i. 4. 

 Tribe Sphingicae. — p. 2T. 

 Tribe Sphingulicae. — p. I -"14. 



.Subfamily Ambiilicinae. —p. l <■><>. 



B. Spkir/f/iilde t<i'nmnop/iorap. — ]>. 347. 



Snl.'family Sesiinae.— p. 34'.». 



Tril)e Dilophouoticae. — p. '■'i-i'i. 

 Tribe Sesiicae. — ]). 37'J. 



Subfamily Ph i lam pcl i nae. -p. 4:."). 



Tribe Philampelicae. — p. 47.1. 

 Tribe Nephelicae. — p. 4'.)8. 



Snbf\imily Chocrocam p i nae.— p. fi7-,\ 



