1*28 EYED HAWK-MOTH. 



obtained by settling on flowers. The body of the 

 larva is granulated or covered with small prominent 

 points, and the anal segment bears a pointed horn 

 which is almost straight. The contour of the head 

 forms a curvilinear triangle, and is not rounded as 

 in the true Sphinx. Perhaps the most beautiful 

 of the three species inhabiting Britain is that 

 named the Eyed Hawk-moth. The male expands 

 about two inches and a-half, and the female often 

 exceeds these dimensions by an inch. The anterior 

 wings, which are very acute at the apex, are grey, 

 tinged with rose-colour, and variegated with brown 

 and dusky clouds and waved streaks ; the centre with 

 a pale curved transverse streak. The posterior wings 

 are carmine-red, with the anterior margin entirely 

 grey, and the hinder one tinged with that colour ; 

 the anal angle bearing a large ocellus with a blue 

 iris, and large bluish-brown pupil, placed in a patch 

 of deep black, which emits a stripe in the direction 

 of the anal angle. The head and thorax are nearly 

 of the same shade of colour as the surface of the 

 upper wings, the latter with a deep brown mark on 

 the back ; the abdomen brownish-grey. 



The caterpillar is of a fine green on the back, 

 the sides and belly tinged with blue. Most of the 

 segments are ornamented with a white oblique 

 stripe on the sides ; the stigmata are white, circum- 

 scribed by a brown line; the membraneous legs 

 rose-colour, and the head bordered with yellow. It 

 feeds on various trees, such as the willow, poplar 

 ajid apple. 



