48 Lloyd's natural history. 



the trivet hawk-moth. sphinx ligustri. 



{Plate CVII., Fig. i; larva. Fig. 2.) 



Sphinx ligustri, Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. (ed. x.), i., p. 490, no. 7 

 (1758); Faun. Suec, p. 287 (1761); Mus. Ludov. Ulricas, 

 p. 347 (1764); Esper, Schmett., ii., p. 6i,Taf. 6 (1779), 

 p. 226, Taf. 36, fig. 7 (1783?) ; Hiibner, Eur. Schmett., ii., 

 fig. 69 (1803 ?) ; Ochsenheimer, Schmett. Eur., ii., p. 240 

 (1808); Stephens, III. Brit. Ent. Haust., i., p. 121 (1828); 

 Walker, List Lepid. Ins. Brit. Mus., viii., p. 214, no. 2 

 (1856); Kirby, Eur. Butterflies and Moths, p. 69, pi. 17, 

 figs. 3 a-c (1879); Buckler, Larvae of Brit. Lepid., ii., 

 p. no, pi. 22, fig. 2 (1887); Barrett, Lepid. Brit. Isl., ii., 

 p. 31, pi. 47 (1893). 



This species has a wide range throughout Europe, as well as 

 in Northern and Western Asia. 



It expands from three inches and a half to four inches and a 

 quarter. 



The head is reddish-grey ; the thorax dark brown, lighter in 

 the middle, and reddish-grey on the sides ; the abdomen is 

 ringed alternately with rose-colour and blackish, with a 

 blackish band down the centre intersecting the rings. The 

 fore-wings are light brown, greyish towards the apex and hind 

 margin, with several blackish lines between the nervures, and 

 a short black central streak. The hind-wings are rose- 

 coloured, with two black bands running parallel to the hind 

 margin, and a third less distinct band towards the base. The 

 moth varies occasionally in colour, and specimens with reddish- 

 grey or almost white hind-wings are sometimes met with. 



The larva is full-grown about August or September. It 

 feeds on privet, lilac, and elder. It is more than three inches 

 long, bright apple green, with seven oblique violet streaks on 



