127 



EYED HAWK-MOTH. 



Smerinthus Ocellatus. 

 PLATE III. Fitf. 1. 



Smer. Ocellatus, Latreille ; Stephens. Sphinx Ocellata, Linn. ; 



Don. viii. PI. 269. Sphinx Semipavo, De Geer Sphinx 



Salicis, Hubner Eyed Hawk-moth, Harris 1 Aurel. PI. 5. 

 Curtis' B. E. xi. PI. 482. 



THE Smerinthi have frequently been confounded 

 with the Sphinges, but they present a sufficient 

 number of distinctive marks to entitle them to be 

 regarded as a separate generic group. Of these 

 the most important are the shortness of the pro- 

 boscis, which is scarcely perceptible, the angulated 

 or dentated margin of the anterior wings, and the 

 serrated antennae. The species are not numerous ; 

 most of them are of sombre colours ; and they are 

 dull inactive insects, seldom appearing on the wing, 

 and when they do so, displaying none of the 

 vivacity and rapid movements of the kinds >to 

 which, in other respects, they bear a close affinity. 

 The shortness of their trunk renders them incapable 

 of feeding while on the wing like the Humming- 

 bird Hawk-moth; the little food which they re- 

 quire during their brief existence, is therefore 



