THE GAMMA-MOTH. 239 



towards the tip ; proboscis long ; head and thorax 

 both crested; the abdomen, which is rather long 

 and thick, likewise bearing tufts at the base and 

 along the back ; fringe of the anterior wings slightly 

 emarginate, that of the posterior entire : caterpillars 

 half loopers, possessing only four ventral legs and 

 the usual posterior pair. Such are the distinguish- 

 ing characters of this handsome genus, which con- 

 tains about a dozen indigenous species. All of 

 them are remarkable for the rich metallic marks 

 on the anterior wings, which sometimes assume 

 the appearance of written characters. They fly 

 during the day, skipping about from one plant 

 to another in a restless manner, and with much 

 rapidity, keeping their wings, while feeding, in con- 

 stant vibration, somewhat like the Humming-bird 

 Hawk-moth. The most common and best known 

 of these insects is represented on the adjoining plate. 

 It measures from an inch and one-third, to upwards 

 of an inch and a half; the upper wings grey, varie- 

 gated with dusky brown, having a pale blotch ante- 

 riorly towards the apex, and a few transverse slightly 

 waved dark lines ; the disk of each inscribed with a 

 silvery character, resembling the letter Y, or rather 

 the Greek y ; fringe somewhat dentate, greyish, 

 spotted with dusky brown. Hinder wings ash- 

 brown, the nervures and hinder margin deep brown; 

 the fringe light-coloured with dark spots. The head 

 and thorax are ash-grey ; the abdomen rather of a 

 lighter hue. 



The colour varies considerably in intensity, and 



