SPHINGES 211 



the Humming-bird Hawk, so called on account of its exceedingly 

 rapid humming-bird-like flight, accompanied by a soft humming 

 sound. 



This insect is very common ; and, being very partial to the attrac- 

 tions offered by many of our favourite garden flowers, it ought to 

 be well known to all observers of nature. 



Take your stand near a bed of petunias or verbenas, or close to 

 a honeysuckle in bloom, on any hot summer's day, and you are 

 almost sure to be rewarded by a peep at the wonderful flight and 

 interesting ways of this moth. It makes its appearance so suddenly 

 that you first view it as an apparently motionless insect, suspended 

 in the air, and thrusting its long proboscis into the tube of an attrac- 

 tive flower. Its wings vibrate so rapidly that they are quite 

 invisible, and give rise to the soft hum already mentioned. Then 

 it darts from one flower to another, making a similar brief stay 

 before each while it sucks the grateful sweets. Eaise yotlr hand as 

 if to strike, and suddenly it vanishes you know not where. But it 

 is as bold as it is wary, and will often return to the selfsame flower 

 as if to defy your power. A sharp sweep of your net in a horizontal 

 direction, or a sudden downward stroke, may secure it ; but if you 

 miss it, as you probably will, it will disappear like a phantom, and 

 give you no opportunity of making a second attempt. 



This moth is on the wing throughout the hottest months of the 

 year May to September, and will often greet you as you roam over 

 flowery banks in search of butterflies. 



The caterpillar feeds on the lady's bedstraw (Galimn veruni), 

 hedge bedstraw (G. Mollugo), and the goose grass (G. Aparine), 

 and may be searched for in August and September. It is rough, 

 green or brownish, and dotted with white. Along each side are two 

 light lines. The horn is thin and short, rough, and points upwards. 



The Broad-bordered Bee Hawk (Macroglossa Fuciformis) 



The two other moths of this genus are called Bee Hawks from 

 their resemblance to the humble bee. They are very much alike, 

 but may be distinguished by a difference in the width of the dark 

 border of the wings ; and are named Broad- bordered and Narrow- 

 bordered respectively. 



The former is illustrated in the woodcut appended. The fore 

 wings are transparent like those of bees, with a dark central spot 

 and a broad reddish-brown hind margin. The base and costa are 



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