2 LLOYDS NATURAL HISTORY, 



at least twice as long as broad, and pointed, or with the hind 

 margins indented ; hind-wings also long, narrow, and pointed 

 at the tip ; the abdomen, which is generally long and tapering, 

 more rarely short, and frequently more or less tufted, extends 

 for the greater part of its length beyond the hind-wings. 



The Hawk-moths are an exceedingly well-defined group, 

 and are generally recognisable at a glance. Very few species 

 exhibit any remarkable resemblance to other families of moths, 

 nor are they connected with other families by any well-marked 

 links. They have sometimes been called Crepuscula7'ia^ 

 because several of the most conspicuous species fly at dusk \ 

 but the MacroglossincQ are day-flyers, and some of the larger 

 species, such as MaJiduca atropos (Linn.), fly late at night. 

 Some species, especially Hyloicus pinastri (Linn.), are in the 

 habit of resting on the trunks of trees in the daytime. The 

 Sphingidce are a rather extensive family, and although they are 

 not very numerous in Europe, these large and conspicuous 

 moths have always attracted a considerable amount of 

 attention. The colours of many of the species are very 

 beautiful, though they can rarely be called actually brilliant 

 or gaudy. Most of them have a long proboscis, and hover 

 over flowers, while they suck up the honey ; and some 

 of these have a very rapid flight. In these the proboscis is 

 often much longer than the body. Other species, in which 

 the proboscis is short or obsolete, do not visit flowers, and 

 their flight is usually heavy. Several of the larger Sphinges, 

 such as the species of Manduca (Hiibner) and the African 

 Basiajia posfica, Walker, are known to stridulate loudly, while 

 the larva of the Indian genus Langia (Moore) is said to 

 [)roduce a hissing sound. The SphingidcE have been divided 

 by Dr. Butler into six sub-families, of which all but one 

 f<Anibulicincc) are represented in Europe, and, indeed, in Great 

 Britain. Most of the species have a conspicuous fleshy horn 



