LEPIDOPTERA. 329 



possessed by the Skippers (Hesperina); but the Window- 

 winged Moths differ from the Skippers in having a well- 

 developed frenulum. 



The early stages of our species are not known ; but the 

 larva of a European species lives upon the leaves of Cle- 

 matis, which it rolls like a Tortricid. This larva is said to 

 appear like that of a Chrysomelid beetle. It descends to 

 the surface of the ground and makes a dense silken cocoon, 

 more or less mixed with grains of sand. 



The most common representative of this family in the 

 Eastern and Middle States is the Spotted Thyris, Thyris 

 maculata (Thy'ris mac-u-la'ta). This species 

 (Fig. 405) is brownish black, sprinkled with rust- 

 yellow dots ; the outer margin of the wings, 

 especially of the hind wings, is deeply scal.loped, FIG 4oj _ Thyris 

 with the edges of the indentations white. maculata. 

 There is on each wing a translucent white spot ; that of 

 the hind wing is larger, kidney-shaped, and almost divided 

 in two. This species occurs also in the West, as there are 

 specimens from Montana in the Cornell University collection. 



The Mournful Thyris, Thyris lugnbris (Thy'ris lu-gu'bris), 

 is a larger species found in the Southern 

 States. It can be recognized by Figure 406. 

 It is brownish black, marked with yellow, 

 ns and with the translucent spots yellowish. 



. w-J -Family SPHINGID^: (Sphin'gi-dae). 



The Hawk-moths or Sphinxes. 



Hawk-moths are easily recognized by the form of the 

 body, wings, and antennae. The body is very stout and spin- 

 dle-shaped ; the wings are long, narrow, and very strong ; the 

 antennae are more or less thickened in the middle or towards 

 the tip, which is frequently curved back in the form of a 

 hook ; rarely the antennae are pectinated. The sucking-tube 

 (maxillae) is usually very long, being in some instances twice 



