SPHINGID.^. 69 



actually been at times mistaken for a genuine liumming-bird, 

 by persons accustomed to those exquisite creatures in their 

 native lands, and but little acquainted with natural history. 

 It is much attracted by the blossoms of Larkspur, Scarlet 

 Geranium, Jasmine, Red Valerian {Centranthus}^ Verbena, 

 Marvel of Peru, Sweet William, and Honeysuckle, and does 

 not entirely restrict its attentions to them to the sunshine, 

 but will continue on the wing quite into the dusk on warm 

 evenings, and has even been taken at flowers by moonlight- 

 Its habits in other respects are erratic and curious ; it is fond 

 of flying along stone walls at the sides of fields, and the walls of 

 houses, examining the holes and interstices as though search- 

 ing for a place to hide in, and will even settle and run into 

 such places. Coal seems to have a peculiar attraction for it, 

 and it has often been seen examining the large heaps, or 

 resting for a short time on the lumps. The fronts of per- 

 pendicular cliffs are equally frequented ; and the reason does 

 not seem to be clearly ascertained — indeed, the moth has been 

 known to carefully examine, and settle upon, a glaring 

 advertisement poster. The most obvious suggestion is that 

 it is seeking a suitable place for hybernation, but if so, the 

 habit outlives the necessity, since the moth is quite as fond 

 of investigating walls in the spring as in the autumn. 

 Possibly its habit may be to take its ordinary repose in such 

 places of shelter, and this may account for the fact that we 

 rarely, if ever, find it at rest. For hybernation it enters 

 houses, outhouses, barns, and other buildings. Mr. Stainton 

 saw it after hybernation, in the early spring, at Rome, in 

 such numbers and under such circumstances that two or 

 three were buzzing in nearly every window of the Villa 

 Borghese. 



It is said by some writers to be double-brooded, but all the 

 evidence seems to point the other way. The eggs are laid 

 after hybernation (the moth hovering over the plant while 

 she deposits them), and there is strong reason to believe that 

 this does not take place very early in the season ; while, on 



