INNOXIOUS INSECTS. 



THE WHITE-LINED MORNING SFRINX—Beilepkila iincata, 



Fabr. 



(Lepidoptera, Sphingida.) 

 [Fig. 60.] 



^Ifev W// .^9? : 



The beautiful moth which heads this chapter is quite common in 

 the State of Missouri, and has upon several occasions been sent to 

 me for identification. Almost every one must have been struck 

 with the great resemblance which it bears to a humming bird, as, of 

 a summer's evening, it flits rapidly from plant to plant in the garden, 

 and ever and anon hovers noiselessly over some particular flower, 

 and stretches forth its long tongue to sip the sweet nectar which that 

 flower contains. 



Few persons are, however, aware what this beautiful moth looks 

 like, or what it feeds upon, in the caterpillar state; wherefore this 

 brief account of it. 



The very great diversity of form and habits to be found amongst 

 the larvae of our butterflies and moths, has much to do with the inter- 

 est which attaches to the study of these masked forms. I am moved 

 to admiration and wonder as thoroughly to-day as in early boyhood, 



