64 INSECT A TRANSVA ALIENSIA. 



23. Goodia kuntzei. (Tab. V., fig. 6). 



Satuniiii Kuntzei, Dewitz, Verh. Leop.-Carol. Akad. xlii. p. 70, Taf. 2 (iii.), fig. 14 (1881). 

 Satumia (?) Kunzii, Kirby, Syn. Cat. Lepid. Heteroc. p. 773, n. 18 (1892). 

 OrthogonioptUHm Kunzei, Kothsch. Novitates Zool. vol. ii. p. 49 (1895). 

 Lasioptila amoniei, Kirby, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (G) vol. xviii. p. 387 (1896). 

 Goodia Kuntzei, Butl. Proc. Zool. Soc. Lend. 1898, p. 431. 



Hab. — Transvaal ; Barberton (Eendall), Sbilouvane in Zoutpansberg (Junod ; Pret. Mus. and 

 Coll. Dist.). — Widely distributed. Described by Dewitz from Guinea ; by Kirby from East Africa. 



Fam. SPHINGID^. 



SpMiif/iclfB (Latreille), Packard, ' Guide to the Study of Insects,' p. 271 (1876). 



We have chosen Packard's description of the characters of this family: — " The Hawk 

 Moths or Humming-bird Moths arc among the largest and stoutest of Lepidoptera. The body is very 

 stout, spindle-shaped, with narrow, poioerfid wings. Their flight is, consequently, exceedingly swift and 

 strong. The antennae are prismatic in form, and thickened in the middle. The tongue, or maxillae, is 

 remarkably long, so that the insect is able, while on the iving, to explore the interior of deep flotvers. 

 This habit of remaining for a considerable time poised in the air on their rapidly vibrating wings, causes 

 them to be mistaken for Humming-birds. At rest the wings are folded, roof-like, over the body. The 

 larva; have sixteen legs, and on the last segment is an acute horn, sometimes represented by a simple 

 tubercle. At rest they stand loith the fore part of the body elevated in a supposed Sphinx-like attitude. 

 The larvae descend into the earth * and transform, often in rude earthen cocoons, moulded into form by 

 the pressure of the body. The tongue-case is usually free." 



While these pages are going through the press, Messrs. Rothschild and Jordan are pre- 

 paring for publication a complete revision of the family, which will doubtless be our standard 

 authority for many years to come. I had hoped to have followed and made use of it here, but 

 some unavoidable delay has prevented it appearing in time for that purpose. Dr. Jordan has, 

 however, kindly given me the arrangement of genera which will represent their classification, 

 and has also done me a greater service by giving me the generic position which they advocate 

 for the species I here enumerate. I have followed this guidance, and have discarded any 

 arrangement in subfamilies, as being unnecessary when a revised classification is on the eve 

 of publication. The sequence of genera will accord, and it must be remembered that this is 

 a faunistic rather than a classificatory work. 



The very peculiar larva; of these Moths have incited a vast amount of interest, and the 

 search for evidence as to protection acquired by their colour-markings and aggressive 

 attitudes has resulted in the acquisition of some facts and considerable theory. Both 

 Weismann \ and Poulton I have given much time and consideration to these matters, and 

 those who desire a presentment of their views are best referred to their writings. 



■•'= This is not invariably the case, as detailed at p. 68. 



f ' Studies in the Theory of Descent,' Eng. transl. (1882). 



I Cf. Series of Papers contributed to various Scientific Societies from 1883 to present time. 



