^ 



VII 



SPHINGID^ 



BRANCH, ARTHROP'ODA (" jointed-footed "). 

 CLASS, HEXAp'oDA (" six-footed ": insects). 



ORDER, lepidop'tera (" scaly-winged "). 



SUBORDER, heteroc'era (" other-horned," i.e., antennEe not knobbed 



at the tip, like butterflies). 

 FAMILY, sPHiNG'iDvE (" sphinx-Uke "). 



THE moths of this family are often mistaken for 

 humming-birds, when poised before flowers into 

 whose deep nectaries they have thrust their long, 

 slender tongues. They are called " humming-bird 

 moths," and still oftener " hawk-moths," because they 

 fly so swiftly and strongly. Some species fly at night, 

 some at dusk, others in hot sunshine at noonday. 

 They have long, narrow fore wings, short hind wings, 

 and long, tapering abdomens. Their antennaB are long 

 and slender, not feather-like as are those of the large 

 spinning-moths, and not clubbed at the tip like those 

 of most butterflies. The antennae of the males are 

 ciliate, while those of the females are not; both are 

 fusiform. They are rarely pectinate. 



The caterpillars have short hairs, or setce^ when 

 very young, but are smooth or granulated when full 

 grown. Most species have a caudal horn at some stage 



69 



