SPHINGID.H. 57 



twelfth segment is devoid of a horn, the place usually 

 so occupied is indicated by a minute double tubercle. 

 Head pale grey, second to fourth segments pale buff, with 

 brown dorsal line, remainder of the body ashy brown 

 freckled with black, the front of each segment paler and 

 bearing larger freckles, which seem to form a transverse 

 band. On each side of the fifth and sixth segments is a 

 round eye-like spot of a lilac colour, centred with brown, the 

 second having also a yellow dot ; both spots bordered with 

 black and very conspicuous. Under parts pale bluish-grey 

 tinged with pink, spiracles white ringed with black ; legs 

 and pro-legs of the colour of the body. Varying in colour, 

 sometimes green, abundantly dusted with black-brown, and 

 the ocellated spots pink and vivid ; or very dark umbreous, 

 with the upper part of the anterior segments pale brown, 

 creamy, or yellow-brown. Below the tubercle on the twelfth 

 segment is often a pale brownish or yellowish stripe ; some- 

 times there is a subdorsal row of yellowish dots, or the 

 spiracular region is dotted with white. 



Buckler, from whose description and figures much of the 

 above is adapted, says that the larva, when very young, is 

 pale greyish green, with blackish bristles, yellowish head 

 and under surface, but no caudal horn at any stage, 

 only the indistinct double wart. As it becomes older the 

 green surface is abundantly dotted in transverse lines with 

 white. At the third moult the ocellated spot on the fifth 

 segment appears, lilac and white, edged below with brown, 

 and a white dot on the sixth segment ; the ground colour in 

 some cases changed to brown ; and at the fourth moult the 

 adult colouring is assumed. 



In August and September, in dry places, on Galium verum, 

 G. mollwjo, G. palvMrc, G. saomtilc, and occasionally even on 

 G. aparine, hiding by day close to the ground, and feeding at 

 night. Has also been found to feed on Ejjilohium augusti- 

 folium, E. hirsutum^ and Lythrum salicaria. 



