164 LEPIDOPTERA. 



moths are perfectly distinct, it is true ; but their mutual relation- 

 ships have not been satisfactorily worked out ; and the great mass 

 of species classed as Bombyces, especially those formerly referred to 

 the Lithosiidce, in its widest sense, are perhaps more difficult to 

 deal with than any. The arrangement of the Moths here adopted 

 is based on the general lines which are usually accepted by ento- 

 mologists in default of something better ; but must be looked upon 

 as wholly provisional. 



SUB-SECTION I. Sphinges. 



Antennae more or less thickened before the tip; abdomen 

 often extending beyond the hind wings ; flight often diurnal or 

 crepuscular. 



Excluding the Zygcenidce, which, though included by Linne* in 

 his genus Sphinx, are certainly Bombyces, this group contains five 

 very dissimilar families, three at least of which hardly belong to it. 



FAMILY I. Sphingidce. 



Body stout ; abdomen extending far beyond the hind wings ; 

 wings narrow; fore wings generally much longer than the hind 

 wings, and rather pointed; wings generally opaque; abdomen 

 rarely tufted ; larva generally with a horn near the tail ; pupa in 

 a subterranean cell. 



SUB-FAMILY I. Macroglossince. 



Size small; wings sometimes transparent; abdomen with a 

 large expansile tuft at the extremity ; flight diurnal. 



The present group includes the Bee Hawk-moths and Hum- 

 ming-bird Hawk-moths. The Bee Hawk-moths belong to the 

 genus Hemaris, Dalm. The species measure from an inch and a 

 half to two inches and a half across the wings, which are trans- 

 parent, with brown, reddish, or greenish borders ; their bodies are 

 generally green or brown, and, if green, belted with red ; and the 

 anal tuft is usually red or brown. 



The genus Macroglossa, Ochs., is very similar to this in shape ; 

 many of the species resemble our common Humming-bird Hawk- 

 moth, which has dark-brown fore wings, reddish-brown hind 

 wings, and a black apical tuft. It is a very rapid insect on the 

 wing, flying from flower to flower, and sucking the nectar with 

 its long proboscis, in the manner of a humming-bird. It is not 

 easily captured on the wing without practice, and it never rests 



