154 



]MOTHS AND BUTTERFLIES. 



quite near them and watch them guide their long flexible tongues into 

 the tiny flowers. The motion of their wings is so rapid that they 

 make a slisfht whirrino- noise and in the lialf-lio-ht are almost invis- 

 ible. The larva is green with light oblique stripes on the sides, and 

 it feeds on the leaves of the ap})le though it is rarely sufficiently 

 plentiful to do much damage. 



Sphinx cliersis. 



On the ash and lilac, in September, may \)e found a plump, liand- 

 some green caterpillar, wliitish on tlie back and having seven oblique 

 light yellow stripes on its sides edged above with dark green. This 

 is the larva of Spliinx chersis. The moth is ashen gray in color with 

 several black and white bands on the sides of its body, two heav}^ 

 black lines on its lower wings and a few pen-like markings in black 

 on its forward wings. It is a large powerful moth and has a strong, 

 rapid flight. 



Sphinx drupifei'iirum is also a good-sized moth, being four inches 

 or over in expanse of wing. The general color is dark sooty brown. 

 The outer margin of all four wings is light brown wliile a large area 

 along the upper margin of the upper wings and a band across the 

 lower wings is gray. Black and white bands alternate on the sides 

 of the body. The larva feeds on the leaves of the plum and hack- 

 l)erry. It is light green with white stripes edged above with purple. 



