52 INTRODUCTION. 



The number of these insects found in Britain is 

 not inconsiderable, and includes all the kinds in- 

 digenous to Europe, except a few species. Several 

 conspicuous kinds hare been admitted into our 

 native lists, in consequence of the occurrence of one 

 or two examples ; but from what we know of their 

 history and geographical distribution, it seems more 

 proper to ascribe their appearance in this country 

 to fortuitous causes, such as accidental importation 

 along with foreign productions, than to their being 

 aboriginal natives of the soil. Such seems to be the 

 case with Sphinx Carolina, b-maculatus, Daucus, 

 and Qruroei, some of which, when caterpillars, feed 

 on exotic plants for which the vegetation of this 

 country can scarcely be supposed to afford any ade- 

 quate substitute. But on this subject it is difficult 

 to speak decisively, as many species which were 

 once thought to be exclusively confined to one kind 

 of plant have been found to subsist readily on others, 

 when their ordinary pabulum was not to be pro- 

 cured. DeilepJdla nerii, for example, has occurred 

 in the larva state in Britain, and is frequent in 

 certain years in the north of Germany and other 

 parts of the continent, where the tender shrub from 

 which it derives its name (the nerium oleander J, 

 and which was thought to be its only food, does not 

 grow spontaneously, and could therefore seldom if 

 at all be obtained. 



The caterpillars of the typical sphinxes are ol 

 large size, ornamented with fine colours, and pos- 

 sessed of as distinctive characters as the perfect 



