128 BRITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS 



two larvae we see no trace. This larva feeds in August 

 and September on elm and lime. 



The perfect insect appears about the middle of May, 

 and continues to come out during the following month ; 

 it is not so frequently observed on palings and trunks 

 of trees as the two preceding species. 



FAMILY II. SPHINGLD^E. 



ACHEEONTIA ATROPOS. THE DEATH'S 

 HEAD HAWK-MOTH. 



This large and conspicuous insect occurs generally 

 throughout the country; it is usually scarce, but in 

 some particular years it occurs in greater numbers, and 

 then the larvae may easily be obtained. 



The expansion of the wings varies from 4 to 5 inches. 

 The fore- wings are blackish-brown, with indistinct tawny 

 markings, but with a conspicuous yellow dot near the 

 centre; the hind- wings are yellow with a narrow black 

 band in the centre, and a broader black band ou the 

 hind margin. The broad thorax has an indistinct pale 

 mark on it, resembling a skull (whence the name of 

 Death's head has been derived). The body is very 

 large and thick, deep yellow banded with black, and 

 with a broad bluish-black central stripe. 



The larva, which grows to the length of five or six 

 inches, may be immediately recognized by the form of 

 its caudal horn ; this is rough, at first declined back- 

 wards but then recurved. No other Sphinx larva in 

 this country has a horn of this form. The usual colour- 

 ing of this larva is very beautiful ; lemon-yellow, with 

 the lower part of the sides and towards the head 

 greenish ; on each side are seven oblique violet stripes. 



