ARTICULATA. 18 3i 



'bicB^ fig. 12 ; D. elpenor^ fig. 13 ; Z>. celeHo^ fig. 14). The maxillae are not 

 very long in this genus. Sj)hinx {S. pinasfri, fig. 11 ; S. ligustri, fig. 16 ;• 

 /S. convolvuU., fig. 17). In this genus the spiral maxillne are very long, and 

 the antennae somewhat lengthened, and hooked at the apex. Most of the 

 caterpillars have oblique pale stripes upon the sides, and a horn near the 

 posterior extremity. The pupie have the rostrum case detached, and form- 

 ing a hook. They change in the earth. Sphinx Carolina and S. quinque- 

 maculata are common in the United States. AcJierontia atropos {fig. 15) 

 is the largest member of this family in Europe. It is known by a mark 

 upon the thorax in the shape of a human skull. Smerinthus {8. tilicB, fig. 

 18 ; S. populi, fig. 19 ; fS. ocellata, fig. 20) has the maxillae very short, and 

 the outer margin of the anterior wings irregular. The species are of slug- 

 gish habits, and do not feed upon the wing. The larva enters the ground 

 to change, and the pupa is without the hooked rostrum case. Dr. T. W. 

 Harris has published a valuable paper upon this family in the 36th vol. of 

 the Am. Jour, of Science. 



Macroglossa {M. stellatarum., pi. 80, fig. 10) is a day-flying genus having 

 a tuft at the end of the abdomen. Its habits on the wing are those of 

 Trochilus^ with which it may be readily confounded. 



■ Sesia fuciformis {pi. 80, fi^. 9). This small group has no characters, 

 snflicient to separate it from the SpMngidm., with which Westwood unites 

 it. Sesia has the wings transparent, and the body robust and hairy. The 

 species fly about flowers in the bright sunshine. This genus differs but 

 little from Macroglossa., and both are called humming-birds. 



Fam>. 12. Uraniidce (or Nijctaloidecß). These splendid insects have the 

 general appearance of the diurnal Lepidoptera, except that instead of having 

 the antenna? knobbed, the basal half is filiform, and the remainder gradually 

 thickened, and then tapering to the point. The discoidal cell of all the 

 wings is open. The chief color is a bright golden green, mixed with black' 

 and sometimes red. They fly during the day ; and their flight is high and 

 rapid, so that they cannot readily be taken excej^t by rearing them from the 

 larvae. 



Fam,. 13. PapilionidoB, Diurna., or Rhopalocera. This family contains 

 a great many large and beautiful insects which fly about in the brightest 

 sunshine, but become dull in damp and cloudy days. They are sometimes 

 of a large size, the expanse of the tropical genus Omithopterus reaching ten 

 inches. The colors are at times very gorgeous, reflecting like polished 

 metal. The patterns are very various, composed of stripes, spots, or rings. 

 Sometimes the lower surface of the wings differs but little from the upper 

 one, but in other cases the jiattern is very distinct. In most cases, the 

 upper surface presents the most variety, and the brightest tints. The 

 coloring is sometimes uniform through certain genera and groups : Colias 

 being yellow and white, with the margins of the wings black ; Polyoirtr 

 raatus.^ blue; and Argynnis fulvous, with black spots above and silvery 

 ones below. Butterflies seldom live over one season, but a few survive the 

 winter and appear early in spring. Some are solitary, and others grega- 

 rious. The genus Papilio is very extensive, containing about three hundred 



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