132 BRITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS 



The larva is smooth, with the anterior segments re- 

 tractile ; it has a short caudal horn, black, with the tip 

 white ; it varies considerably in colour, being some- 

 times green, but generally dark grey marbled with 

 black ; the fifth and sixth segments have each a large 

 black spot on each side, the upper portion of which 

 contains a white kidney-shaped spot, nearly filled up 

 with brown-grey ; these eye-like lateral spots give the 

 larva a very peculiar appearance. It feeds on willow- 

 herb (Epilobium), vine, and fuchsia from the end of 

 July to the beginning of September. In some marshy 

 localities it is very plentiful. 



The perfect insect appears in June, and may be some- 

 times noticed in gardens flying over flowers at dusk. 



A species nearly allied to this, but very rare in this 

 country, is the Silver-striped Hawk-moth (Chserocampa 

 Celerio) . It is larger, the expansion of the wings being 

 more than 3 inches ; it has no rosy markings on the 

 fore-wings, of which the ground-colour is pale brown ; 

 near the centre there is a black dot in a white ring. 

 It has occurred in various parts of the country and 

 in various months ; in the larva state it feeds on the 

 vine. 



Another rarity in this genus is the Oleander Hawk- 

 moth (C/tnerocampa nerii), which has only occurred a 

 few times on the south coast. It is a large insect, the 

 expansion of the wings being from 4 inches to 4J, and 

 it is strikingly handsome, the fore -wings being of a pale 

 rosy-grey, with several large blotches of dull green, 

 irregular form, and more or less intersected with wavy, 

 whitish streaks. The larva feeds on the Oleander. 



