ATTACKING THE LEAVES. 247 



about two and a half inches across, their form being long and 

 narrow, as shown in Fig. 255. The fore wings are of a dark 

 olive-green color, crossed by bands and streaks of greenish 

 gray, and shaded on the outer margin with the same hue. 

 The hind wings are dull red, with a patch of greenish gray 

 next the body, shading gradually into the surrounding color. 

 On the under side the red appears on the fore wings, the hinder 

 pair being greenish gray. The antennae are dull white above, 

 rosy below, head and shoulder-covers deep olive-green, the 



FIG. 255. 



rest of the body of a paler shade of green ; underneath the 

 body is dull gray. 



This moth rests quietly during the day, taking wing at 

 dusk, when it is extremely active ; its flight is very swift and 

 strong, and as it darts suddenly from flower to flower, rapidly 

 vibrating its wings, remaining poised in the air over the 

 objects of its search, while the long, slender tongue is in- 

 serted and the sweets extracted, it reminds one strongly of a 

 humming-bird. 



The caterpillars are very destructive to the foliage of the 

 vine, being capable of consuming an enormous quantity 

 of food ; one or two of them, when nearly full grown, will 

 almost strip a small vine of its foliage in the course of two 

 or three days. In some districts they are said to nip off the 

 stalks of the half-grown clusters of grapes, so that they fall 

 unripe to the ground. 



