LEPIDOPTERA. 



201 



delicately striped with black. Two grey lines run down each side of 

 its body, and on the fourth and fifth segments are two black eyes 

 bordered by light violet. This caterpillar is found most often on 



Fig. 187. Larva of Deilephila (Chaerocampa) elpenor. 



certain kinds of Epilobium, but will also eat of the vine, fuchsia, and 

 bed-straw. It must be sought in damp places, by streams and ponds, 

 from the end of July till September. It constructs on the surface of 

 the soil a shapeless cocoon with moss and dry leaves, which it fastens 

 together with some silky threads. Its pupa (Fig. 188), of a yellowish 



brown, has short bristles on the rings of the abdomen. The cater- 

 pillar possesses in the highest degree the retractile power which has 

 gained for certain species of this genus their popular names. The 

 Privet Sphinx ( Sphinx ligustri, Fig. 189) has its upper wings rather 

 narrow, about two inches long, of a reddish grey, and veined with 

 black above, with the middle of a dark brown, the inner margin with 

 rose-coloured hairs, and the hind margin having two whitish flexuous 



