Transactions. 51 



<)U these occasions by keeping the caterpillai', but they 

 generally all perish from the want of proper knowledge how 

 to keep them. One of the finest and most typical of all the 

 hawk moths is that highly characteristic species the Sphinx 

 convolvuli. It is a very handsome species, and is much 

 more rare than the death's-head. The fore wings are ashy 

 grey, and most beautifully clouded with brown ; the abdomen 

 is also beautifully barred with black, white, and deep pink. 

 When on the wing the convolvulis is the swiftest of all the 

 moth tribe. The rapidity of its movements is so marvellous 

 and so rapid that it is a very difficult matter to give a good 

 description of it. However, Mr Douglas, in the World of 

 Insects, has given such a -good description of this species on 

 the wing that I will give it in full, as it is so much better 

 than anything that I could give. Douglas says — " Bid you 

 ever see u Sphinx fly ? There is nothing to compare its mo- 

 tion to except a flash of lightning. While you are looking 

 at a flower in the twilight, between you and it glides a 

 motion, a moving haziness, which is before you, and yet con- 

 veys to your eye no definite image. Before you have half 

 thought what it can be, you see the flower again distinctly, 

 and rub your eyes, thinking that there must have been an 

 illusion, or possibly an unsteadiness of vision caused by the 

 irritation of the gnat that was buzzing about your head, 

 when lo ! the flower just beyond seems to shiver ; you move 

 to see what is there, but there is a move before you, and a 

 dim shadow flits away like a thought. Can it be anything 

 real ? Stand still awhile ; and now, in the increasing gloom, 

 as you bend over the petunias holding j^our breath, you sec 

 a darkness visible drop down before, but its presence is 

 better made known by the humming sound caused by the 

 rapid vibration of the wings. Stir not, or this aerial body 

 will float away. Now you see it deigns not to alight or 

 touch the margin of the chalice, but, poising itself in air, 

 stretches out its long tubular tongue and quaffs the nectar 

 at the bottom. Now or never, if you wish to catch it. 

 Strike with your ring rapidl}' below the flower, raising your 



