LEPIDOPTEEA. 199 







often assume. Raising the fore part of the body, which 

 attitude resembles the Sphinx of mythology, they keep for a 

 very long time this state of immobility. They fly very rapidly 



Fig. 177. The Forester (Proem (/no) statices). 



and briskly, and only make their appearance for the most 

 part after sunset. The caterpillars, which in this group are 

 without hair, and have almost always a horn on the eleventh 

 segment of the body, metamorphose themselves in the earth, with- 

 out forming hard cocoons. The chrysalides are sometimes 

 enveloped in a very slight shell or cocoon, which when it exists 

 is formed of particles of earth, or of vegetable debris bound together 

 by threads. This family comprises species generally remarkable 

 for their size and beauty. 



The genus Macroglossa contains some species which fly rapidly 

 and for a long time together during the day. We will mention 

 particularly the Humming-bird Sphinx (Macroglossa stellatarum). 

 This moth (Fig. 178) has attracted the attention of all who have 

 ever spent much time in a flower garden. In Burgundy the 

 children call it bird-fly. In passing from one flower to another 

 it has brisk and rapid movements ; but it remains suspended in 

 the air before each. It does not alight upon any ; it is always 

 flying, thrusting its long trunk the while into the corollse of 

 flowers, counterbalancing the action of its weight by the con- 

 tinuous vibration of its wings. 



We will describe in a few words this robust inhabitant of 

 the air, this charming Urd-fly. The Macroglossa stellatarum 

 shows itself during the whole of the fine season, and till the 

 middle of autumn, in our climate. It often penetrates in the 

 middle of the day into our houses, and knocking itself against 



