2 6 LLOYDS NATURAL HISTORY. 



THE SMALL ELEPHANT HAWK-MOTH. METOPSILUS PORCELLUS. 

 [Plate XCVIIL, Fig. 2; larva. Fig. 3.) 



SpJi'iux porcdlus, Linnoeus, Syst. Nat. (ed. x.), i. p. 492, 

 no. 16 (1758); id. Faun. Suec. p. 288 (1761) ; Esper, 

 Schmett. ii., p. 97, Taf. 10, figs. 1-3 (1779?); Hilbncr, 

 Eur. Schmett. ii. fig. 60 (1797 ?) ; Ochsenlieimer^ 

 Schmett. Eur. ii., p. 211 (r8oS). 



Shliiiix hoiiihylifonnis, Linnceus, Syst. Nat. (ed. x.), i., p. 493. 

 no. 27 (175s)- 



Dcilej^Jula porcellits., Stephens, 111. Brit. Ent. Haust. i., p. 131 

 (182S). 



CJuvrocampa forcellits, Kirby, Eur. Butterflies and Moths^ 

 p. 72, pi. 16, figs. 4 a, b (1S79); Buckler, Larvae of Brit. 

 Lepid., ii., p. 116, pi. 26, figs, i, 1 a-c (1887); Barrett, 

 Lepid. Brit. Isl., ii. p. 55, pi. 52, figs. 2, 2 a (1893). 



This is the smallest British species of the ChoerocamJ)incE, 

 the expansion of the wings being usually about one inch and 

 three-quarters. 



It is dull greenish-yellow, with broad rose-coloured hind 

 margins, and a rose-coloured body. The fore-wings have a 

 broad rose-coloured transverse band in front of the middle, 

 and three spots of the same colour on the costa, extending to 

 the apex. The fringes also are rosy. The hind-wings are 

 blackish towards the base and costa, with white fringes and 

 rosy nervures. 



The larva is light brown mottled with darker, more rarely 

 green, with an ocellated spot on each side of the fifth and 

 sixth segments, and a few black dots on the fourth segment, 

 indicating a siniilar spot. It feeds on bedstraw {Galiiiin veruni). 



It is a common moth in most parts of Europe and Northern 

 and Western Asia, and may be taken liovering over honey- 

 suckle and otiicr flowers at du.sk in early summer. 



