DESCRIPTIVE NOTICES OF CONSPICUOUS SPECIES 133 



FAMILY II. SPHINGID.E. 



CHjEROCAMPA PORCELLUS. THE SMALL 

 ELEPHANT HAWK-MOTH. 



This occurs in various parts of the country, and seems 

 to be most frequent in sandy, chalky, or limestone loca- 

 lities. Northwards it occurs on the slopes of Arthur's 

 Seat, near Edinburgh. 



The expansion of the wings is from If inch to 2 inches. 

 The fore -wings are dull yellow, with the costa rosy, and 

 a rosy central band, and a band along the hind-margin 

 rosy ; the hind-wings are blackish towards the costa and 

 inner margin, then dull yellow, with the hind-margin 

 rosy. 



The larva is smooth, with the anterior segments re- 

 tractile, but at first sight we should hardly take it for 

 a sphinx larva, as it has no caudal horn ; like all the 

 other larvae of this genus it varies in colour, sometimes 

 it is light brown, mottled with dark brown or black, 

 sometimes it is light green, mottled with dark green or 

 black ; there is an eye-like spot on the sides of the fifth 

 and sixth segments, and a few black dots serve to give 

 an indication of a similar spot on the fourth segment. 

 It feeds on the yellow bed-straws in July and August. 



The perfect insect appears towards the end of May 

 and in June, and is not unfrequently observed hovering 

 at flowers at dusk. 



FAMILY III. SESIID^E. 



MACROGLOSSA STELLATARUM. THE HUM- 

 MING-BIRD HAWK-MOTH. 



(Plate III., Fig. 4.) 



This pretty and lively insect is common in most 



