194 ♦ THE INSECT WORLD, 



Next to Zygcena comes Frocris, the species of which fly during the 

 day in damp fields. We will mention particularly the Frocris statices 

 (Fig. 177), which is plentiful enough where it occurs between the 

 middle of June and the middle of July, on the sides of hills. Its 

 fore wings, antennae, and the whole of its body, are of a blue green 

 above. The same wings are of the same colour below, and the sur- 

 faces of the lower ones are of an ashy brown. 



The Sphinges, that is, those species that form the family of the 

 Sphiiigidce^ have received this general name from the atdtude which 

 their caterpillars often assume. Raising the fore part of the body, which 

 attitude resembles the Sphinx of mythology, they keep for a very long 

 time this state of immobility. They fly very rapidly and briskly, and 



Fig. 177.— The Forester {Proeris [/no] statices). 



only make their appearance for the most part after sunset. The 

 caterpillars, which in this group are without hair, and have almost 

 always a horn on the eleventh segment of the body, metamorphose 

 themselves in the earth, without forming hard cocoons. The chrysalis 

 is sometimes enveloped in a very slight shell, or cocoon, which 

 when it exists is formed of particles of earth or of vegetable debris 

 bound together by threads. This family comprises species generally 

 remarkable for their size and beauty. 



The genus Macroglossa contains some species which fly rapidly 

 and for a long time together during the day. We will mention 

 particularly the Humming-bird Sphinx [Macroglossa sfel/afarum). 

 This moth (Fig. 178) has attracted the attention of all who have ever 

 spent much time in a flower garden. In Burgundy the children call 

 it bird-fiy. In passing from one flower to another it hasbrisk and 

 rapid movements, but it remains suspended in the air before each ; 

 it does not alight upon any, it is always flying, thrusting its long 



