THE GENERA OF BRITISH MOTHS, 13 
PLATE IY. 
No. 1.—The Hornet-Moth (Sphecia Apiformis). No. 7.—The Caterpillar of the Ghost-Moth. 
No, 2.—Tho Caterpillar of the Hornet-Moth. No. 8.—The Wood-leopard-Moth (Zeuzera Zsculi). 
No, 3.—The Currant Clearwing (Trochilium Tipuliforme). No. 9.—The Caterpillar of the Wood-leopard, 
No. 4.—The Caterpillar of the Currant Clearwing. No. 10.—The Goat-Moth (Cossus Ligniperda). 
No. 5.—The Ghost-Moth (Hepialus Humuli), the Female. No. 11,—The Caterpillar of the Goat-Moth. 
No. 6.—The Ghost-Moth (the Male). 
THE THIRD FAMILY,—Tur Acerip.s. 
Tus family is by some made the fourth, in consequence of the separation of the genera Macroglossa and 
Sesia from the Sphingide, as the third family, under the title of the Sesiidw, The dgeriide are closely connected 
with the Sphingide by the character of the antenne., The wings of this family of insects are generally without 
seales, except at the anterior margin, and, in some, in a certain space at the tip. The body is long, which, 
with the clear wings, causes them to resemble certain insects of the order Hymenoptera. The larvee of these 
Moths are fleshy grubs, feeding in the interior of young branches, or on the roots of trees; they have, however, 
the legs disposed as in the larve of the Sphingidw, and of the same number, There are two British genera 
in this family. 
The first genus is Sphecia, distinguished from all the rest of the family by the large size of the insects 
assigned to it, and by their wasp-like appearance, in allusion to which Hiibner first gave them the generic 
name Sphecia, and separated them from the genus Zrochilium. 
»No. 1, Plate 4, is the Hornet-Moth, Sphecia Apiformis, distinguished from the next species by the 
broader border to the transpayent wings. The Caterpillar (No, 2) feeds upon the wood of the trunks of Willows 
and other trees, causing considerable damage, It changes to the Chrysalis in April, and the perfect insect 
appears in June. 
£ The second species, Sphecia Bembeciformis, is popularly known as the Lunar Hornet-Moth, It is rather 
smaller than the preceding, and has the brown border of the transparent wings narrower. 
The second genus in the family of the yeriide, is Trochiliwm, containing several native species, to 
which two remarkable additions have been made by recent discoveries. It is distinguished from the preceding 
by the small size of all the species, by the greater slenderness and length of the antenne, and by a pencil-like 
tuft at the tail, of various colours in different species. 
No. 8, Plate 4, is Trochilium Tipuliforme, popularly known as the Currant Clearwing, which I have 
selected as the representative of the genus, on account of its being so well known, both in the larva and perfect 
state, while the larve of many of the others haye not as yet been observed. The margin of the wings, and 
the central spot, are black tinged with yellow, the hind margin streaked with orange ; there is a yellowish stripe 
on each side of the thorax; and the abdomen is black, with a purple gloss, and has three yellow bands ; 
the anal tuft is black. 
The Caterpillar of the Currant Clearwing (No. 4) feeds upon the pith of the common Currant-tree in May, 
and the perfect insect appears in June, The ten other species may be distinguished by the following briefly 
stated characters :—~- 
D 
