SMERINTIIUS. 59 



S.ncri/it/iKs popuU, Stephens, 111. Brit. Ent. Haust., i., p. 112 

 (182S) ; Boisduval, Spec. Gen. Lepid. Heter., i., p. 23 

 (1875); Kirby, Eur. Butterflies and Moths, p. 73, pi. 19, 

 figs. 3 a, b (1879) ; Buckler, Larvce of Brit. Lepid., ii., 

 p. 103, pi. 20, fig. 2 (1887) ; Barrett, Lepid. Brit. Isl., ii., 

 p. 7, pi. 42 (1893). 



The Poplar Hawk-moth inhabits the whole of Europe, as 

 well as Northern and Western Asia. It has an expanse ot 

 about three inches across the wings. The hind margins of all 

 the wings are regularly dentated. The ground-colour is 

 greyish or purplish brown (occasionally inclining to rusty red 

 in some specimens, or greyish-white in others), with darker 

 bands and transverse lines. The fore-wings are marked with 

 a white crescent-shaped spot near the middle. At the base of 

 the hind-wings is a rusty red patch, and there is sometimes an 

 indistinct whitish lunule near the middle. The body is 

 coloured like the wings ; the antenn^^ are reddish on the 

 inner, and yellowish-white on the outer side. 



The larva is green, with oblique yellow or white stripes on 

 the sides, and yellow or rose-coloured stigmata centred wnth 

 white. The head is bordered with yellow, and the horn is 

 yellow, with a blue base. It feeds on poplars and willows. 

 'J'he dull brown pupa, which is formed in loose soil, is stout, 

 cylindrical, and granulated. The moth is common in Britain, 

 and flies about trees at dusk. 



GENUS SMERINTIIUS. 



Snicr'uitJiHS, Latreille, Hist. Nat. Crust. Ins., iii., p. 40T (1802); 

 id., Consid. Gcncrales, p. 357 (1810); Stephens, 111. Brit. 

 Ent. Haust., i., p. in (1828); Walker, List Lepid. Ins. 

 Brit. jMus., viii., p. 239 (1856) ; Boisduval, Spec. Gen. 

 Lepid. Hcter., i., p. 17 (1875). 



