T96 



THE INSECT WORLD. 



divergenc hairs, reminding one of a bird's tail. It is for this reason 

 that it has been called by the French Sphinx Moineau^ or Sparrow 

 Sphinx. This resemblance is so great, that 

 Mr. Bates, in his book on the Amazons, 

 says he often shot species of this genus in 

 mistake for humming-birds. The cater- 

 pillar of this remarkable Lepidopteron 

 (Fig. 179) is of a pale green, with eight 

 transverse rows of small white dots and 

 four longitudinal rows, of which two are 

 white and two yellowish. It has a dark 

 blue horn, with an orange-coloured tip. 

 It lives on different species of led-straw, 

 but by preference on the Galium inollugo. 

 Before its metamorphosis, it encloses itself 

 in a shapeless cocoon, made of the debris of leaves held together 

 by threads, and placed on the surface of the ground. The pupa 

 (Fig. 180) is of a light grey, sprinkled over with brown dots, and 

 striped with black. Its skin is so thin and transparent that one can 

 follow it through all the phases of transformation to the imago. 



Fig. i79.--CaterpilIar of 

 Humming-bird Hawk-Moth 

 (Macroglossa stellatarurn). 



Fig. 180. — Pupa of Macroglossa stellatarum. 



The genus Deilephila is composed of species whose flight is rapid, 

 and after sunset. Such are the Deilephila euphorbice, the Oleander 



nerii)^ and the large Elephant 

 ?lpenor). 



Hawk-Moth [Deilephila \ Cheer oca??ipa 

 Hawk-Modi {Deilephila [Chcerocanipa 



The Deilephila euphorbice (Fig. 181) has the upper wings of a. 

 reddish grey, with three spots of greenish or olive colour along the^ 

 costa, or front margin, and a broad black obHque band along the 

 hind margin. The lower wings are red, with the base black, and a 

 transverse black band towards the edge j they have, moreover, a 



