40 LLOYDS NATURAL HISTORY 



DapJuiis nerii\ Curtis, Brit. Ent., xlv., pi. 626 (1837); Moore, 

 Lepid. Ceylon, ii., p. 14, pi. 82 (1882); Hampson, Faun, 

 Brit. Ind., Moths, i., p. 94, fig. 54 (1892). 



ChffrocajiiJ^a nerii^ Boisduval, Spec. Gen. Lepid. Heter., i., 

 p. 224 (1875); Kirby, Eur. Butterflies and Moths, p. 72, 

 pi. 18, figs. 3 a-c (1879); Barrett, Lepid. Brit. Isl., ii., 

 p. 62, pi. 53 (1893). 



This large and beautiful hawk-moth expands from four to 

 nearly four inches and a half across the wings. 



The fore-wings are green, with a round whitish spot at the 

 base, centred with dark green. Near the middle of the wing is 

 a rosy or yellowish band, divided by a green stripe, and 

 towards the apex is a light green transverse band, edged with 

 white, which terminates at a large violet-grey spot, which 

 extends from the inner angle to the middle of the wing. The 

 hind-wings are violet-grey or blackish from the base to beyond 

 the middle, and green on the hind margin, the two colours 

 being separated by an undulating white line. The insect varies 

 chiefly in the lighter or darker shade of the ground colour, 

 and in the amount of reddish or yellowish colour in the band 

 on the fore-wings. The antennae are yellowish, and the head 

 and body are green, with yellowish and white stripes and 

 incisions. 



The young larva is yellowish, with a long black horn. 

 When full-grown it is green, or, more rarely, orange-coloured, 

 with two large ocellated spots on the fourth segment, which 

 are present in all stages. On the sides is a longitudinal white 

 streak, and on the sixth and twelfth segments are numerous 

 white dots. The horn is yellow, thick, straiglit, and somewhat 

 flattened at the base, but becomes narrower and whitish 

 towards the tip, and ends in a blackish point. The larva 

 feeds on oleander. The pupa is brownish yellow, and is 



