'JQ Mr. Stephens on Sjihinx Ephonerccfonnis. 



XVII. On the apparent Identity of Sphinx Ephemerae for- 

 mis of Haworih, ivith Psyche plumifera of Ochsenheimer. 

 JSj/J. F.Stephens, F.L.S. Z.S., V.-Pres. Ent. Soc.,8fc. 



[Read June 2, 1834.] 



PLATE X. Fig. 1. 



What is Sphinx Ephemeraformis of Haworth ? — is an inquiry which 

 has been repeatedly, but fruitlessly, made during the last thirty 

 years ; an inquiry rendered more interesting from the very peculiar 

 characters which have been assigned to the insect in question, — 

 characters * totally at variance with those which distinguish any in- 

 sect of the group in which it has been placed. One of our col- 

 leagues has published an essay, containing some ingenious and sin- 

 gular theoretical views, in order to investigate the identity, and the 

 place in nature, of Sphinx Vespiformis of Linneeus {JEgeria asilifor- 

 mis of English writers) ; but I shall content myself with a short 

 paper only, unshackled by theory, with a vieM' to identify the insect 

 now under consideration, and to assign it to its proper location in 

 the system. 



This insect, rendered thus conspicuous from having been described 

 in a slightly mutilated state, has by chance fallen into my possession, 

 having recently obtained it at an auction of some of Mr. Donovan's 

 insects, in the sale catalogue of which it was announced as an " un- 

 described Cossus ligniperda" ! 



By the assistance of my friend Mr. Westwood, I am enabled to 

 present the Society with a figure of this unknown (for so it may 

 justly be termed) insect, which, upon the most cursory inspection, 

 proved to be no Sphinx, nor even to belong to that section of which 

 Sphinx is the type, but to the singular group known by the name of 

 " SacktrLigers" ^ by the Germans, and considered by some writers as 

 belonging to another order of insects % : in fact, it appears to be a 

 Psyche of Ochsenheimer — (Ps. plumifera) — so far as can be ascer- 

 tained by the remains of the unique specimen described in Lepido- 

 ptera Britannica, p. 72, by the following short characters : 



" Antennis pectinatis, apice setaceis, alis fenestratis venis fusco- 

 lutescentibus, abdomine ezonato. 



" Obs. Magnitudo et statura Ephemerae minoris." 



* " Aiitetinis pectinuiis, upice setaceis." 

 t Tinecp, Canephora, Hiibner. 



X Mr. Newman, in the essay above referred to, places them with the TrichopU-ra; 

 Scopoli places two species with Phrygaiica ; and Poda one with Tcnlhredo. 



