21 6 SPHINX. 



half from wings end to wings end: the upper 

 wings are of a brown colour, most elegantly varied 

 or shaded with deeper and lighter streaks and 

 patches; the under wings and body are of a fine 

 rose-colour, barred with transverse black stripes. 

 The caterpillar, which is very large, is smooth, 

 and of a fine green, with seven oblique purple 

 and white stripes along each side: at the extremity 

 of the body, or top of the last joint, is a horn or 

 process pointing backwards. This beautiful cater- 

 pillar is often found in the months of July and 

 August feeding on the Privet, the Lilac, the Pop- 

 lar, and some other trees, and generally changes 

 to a chrysalis in August or September, retiring 

 for that purpose to a considerable depth beneath 

 the surface of the ground, and, after casting its 

 skin, continuing during the whole winter in a 

 dormant state, the Sphinx emerging from it in the 

 succeeding June. 



Sphinx Ocdlata is perhaps still more beautiful: 

 it is a rather smaller insect than the preceding, 

 and has the upper wings and body brown, the 

 former finely clouded with different shades, while 

 the lower wings are of a bright rose-colour, each 

 marked with a large ocellated black spot with a 

 blue interior circle and a black centre. This in- 

 sect proceeds from a green caterpillar of a rough 

 pr shagreen-like surface, marked on each side by 

 seven oblique yellowish-white streaks, and fur- 

 nished, like the preceding, with a horn at the tail. 

 It is principally found on the Willow; retires 

 under ground, in order to undergo its change 



