SPHINGID^. g 



last of which extends from the eleventh segment on to the 

 twelfth as far as the dorsal horn ; the second to the fourth 

 segments have yellow subdorsal and spiracular lines, and the 

 anal pro-legs and flap are edged with a yellow line ; spiracles 

 whitish, edged with pink or crimson. Sometimes a crimson 

 spot lies before or on each side of the spiracles, and even the 

 subdorsal region is enlivened by a row of larger crimson 

 spots. This variety is frequent in the north. Mr. Adam 

 Elliott has repeatedly noticed it in Roxburghshire. 



Wlien very young the larva has an extremely long caudal 

 horn, which however does not grow in the same j)roportion ; 

 the larva is then of a delicate green, but the lateral stripes 

 and raised points soon begin to appear, though both are 

 whitish rather than yellow, and the brighter colour does not 

 show itself until it is somewhat advanced in growth. 



In June and July, and again in September, on all kinds 

 of poplar, including aspen, also on willow, and, in the fen- 

 districts, commonly on the broad-leaved sallow (Salix caprca). 

 It has also been found on birch, laurustinus, and rose. Rests 

 on the under-side of leaves on the tree. 



Pupa dull and coarse-looking, with a rough surface, stout, 

 blunt at the tail with a short spike, colour dark purplish- 

 brown. At the roots of trees, just below the surface, some- 

 times hardly underground, and in the slightest possible 

 earthen cocoon. Readily dug up from loose earth at the 

 foot of a poplar tree in the autumn or winter. 



The moth flies at dusk, and again late at night. Its flight 

 is heavy and rather clumsy, and in its attempt to alight on 

 the smooth, slender-stalked leaves of a poplar tree it some- 

 times achieves a very undignified tumble, fluttering and 

 slipping from leaf to leaf. Late at night it is attracted by 

 any strong light, and may often be seen hanging to the 

 lower part of a gas-lamp. In the daytime it commonly sits 

 on the lower part of the trunk of a poplar tree, or on a 

 hedgebank, or even on the knocker of a front door, or any 



