364 INSECTS. LEPIDOPTEEA. 



The insects of this genus are ornamented with lively and agreeable colours. They 

 fly lightly and in numbers, about sunset, from flower to flower, sucking melli- 

 ferous liquids with their long trunk. The caterpillars have sixteen feet, and their 

 ekin is smooth or granulated, and without hairs. Almost all have a kind of bent 

 horn on the eleventh ring, of which the use is not known. Among the caterpillars 

 that which is found on the lilac and ligustrum is remarkable for the singularity of its 

 attitude. It is generally fixed to a branch by its membranous feet, with the body 

 elevated perpendicularly and the head inclined, and remains for hours in this posi- 

 tion. Its appearance in this attitude being conceived to have some resemblance to the 

 figures of the fabulous sphinx, the genus has from this circumstance received the name. 



S. atropos, Lin. Upper wings of a deep brown, with irregular spots 

 of brownish and bright yellow,, the lower wings yellow, with two 

 transverse brown bands ; abdomen grayish-blue, with the sides 

 yellow, and a transverse black band on each segment ; thorax 

 black, with a large irregular yellow spot, and black points, repre- 

 senting a death-head. 5 inches broad between the wings. In- 

 habits Europe Shaw, vi. pi. 74. 



This species emits a sound resembling a plaintive cry, which Reaumur says is pro- 

 duced by the rubbing of the palpi against the trunk. They sometimes appear in 

 great numbers ; and one year, being particularly numerous in some parts of Brit- 

 tany in France, when an epidemical disease was raging, they were looked upon with 

 terror as the harbingers of death. The caterpillar is of a deep yellow colour, with 

 spots of deeper and lighter green. It feeds on the leaves of the potatoe, changes 

 into a pupa towards the middle of summer, and becomes a perfect insect in autumn. 



S. convolvvli, Lin. Brown, with paler and darker bands on the up- 

 per wings ; abdomen with transverse black and red bands. 2 

 inches long. The caterpillar is brown or green, with lateral and 

 oblique bands and black dots. Europe. Shaw, vi. pi. 73. 



S. ligustri, Lin. Upper wings veined with blackish brown, and of 

 a reddish-white or gray colour ; the lower rose-coloured, with two 

 black bands j thorax brown, with a reddish band on each side ; 

 abdomen vinous red, with a black band on each wing, separated 

 in the middle by a longitudinal reddish band. Inhabits Europe, 

 in gardens, flying about in the evening. Caterpillar apple-green, 

 with seven oblique lilac and white bands. Fab. Spec. ii. 150. 



TRIBE III. ZYG^NIDES, Lat. 



Antennae of the greater number destitute of tufted scales at the 

 extremity, fusiform, or like a ram's horn ; labial palpi slen- 

 der, compressed, cylindrical or conical, with the third joint 

 very distinct. 



The caterpillars in this tribe have all sixteen feet, and are destitute of a horn at the 

 posterior extremity of the body. Some live in the interior of vegetables ; others are 

 naked and hairy. 



I. Antennae simple in both sexes. 



Gen. SESIA, ^EGOCERA, THYRIS, ZYG^ENA, SYNTOSIIS. 



II. Antennae bipectinated in the males, simple in the females. 



Gen. PROCRIS, ATYCHIA. 



III. Antennae bipectinated in both sexes. 

 Gen. GLAUCOPIS, AGLAOPE, STYGTA. 



Gen. ZYGJSNA, Fab. Lat. Sphinx, Lin. 

 Antennae simple in both sexes, terminating abruptly in a convo- 



