SPHINX- OR HAWK-MOTHS. 203 



body, moreover, has no waist like that of the butterfly. 

 Keeping these few and obvious distinctions in his 

 mind, the young entomologist need never hesitate to 

 decide to which great group any lepidopterous insect 

 belongs. 



THE first family is that of the Sphingidae or 

 Sphinx-Moths. They derive their name, not from 

 any peculiarity in the Moths themselves, but in their 

 larvae, some of which are thought to bear in their 

 attitude a fanciful resemblance to the well-known 

 Sphinx of Egypt. The Moths themselves are popu- 

 larly and appropriately called Hawk-Moths, on account 

 of the great swiftness of their flight, which very much 

 resembles that of the hawk tribe. Their whole struc- 

 ture, indeed, shows that they are made for rapid flight, 

 and, if we compare them with the swift-flying birds, 

 especially the swallows and the humming-birds, we 

 shall find that the outlines of Moths and birds are 

 wonderfully similar. Their bodies are of moderate 

 length, and pointed at the tail, and their wings are 

 long, strong, stiff, narrow, and pointed. In fact, if the 

 shadow of a humming-bird and of a Hawk-Moth were 

 thrown side by side on the same surface, it would not 

 be easy to tell which was the shadow of the bird and 

 which of the insect. 



With a very few exceptions, these Moths fly only 

 at night or in the dusk of the evening, so that to watch 

 their flight is not an easy matter. The best plan is, 

 on some moonlight night, to take a stand near some 

 honey-bearing flowers, to remain perfectly still, and 

 watch quietly. Should there be Hawk-Moths in the 



