PREHISTORIC BOTANISTS. ! 3 



in its habit of growth ; but the eye of the Sphinx knew better, and 

 has begun to adopt the plant in its limited diet, for is it not the 

 Ampelopsis tricuspidata, a grape-bearing vine close akin to our 

 Virginia-creeper? I have found the caterpillars feeding upon it. 



A smaller Sphinx, with thorn upon its tail, known as the 

 " Hog Caterpillar," is perhaps the most common species found 

 upon the Vitis. But, says my incredulous observer, "Here is the 

 identical caterpillar which I have found upon a sprig of wild aza- 

 lea, and have often seen upon the Andromeda and Clcthra and 

 other plants of the Heath family." And the impeachment would 

 certainly seem complete. If we keep the insect until the follow- 

 ing spring, however, the moth which emerges from the chrysalis 

 will dispel all doubt. It is found to be a distinct species the 

 Versicolor, which is as partial to the Heath family as its double 

 was to the Vitis. 



Then there is that great green Sphinx caterpillar, which is the 

 pest of the tobacco -grower, and the thrilling prize of the small 

 boy entomologist, and whose loud -humming, long-tongued moth 

 hovers about our twilight honeysuckles one of the largest of its 

 kind. It is hardly necessary to mention that this is the same 

 voracious feeder which we find upon tomato and potato plants, 

 as well as occasionally upon the red-berried nightshade, ground- 

 cherry, and apple of Peru. I have never happened to find it on 

 henbane or stramonium; but who shall dispute that the botanical 

 skill which should include the former list might not also extend 

 to all the rest of the Solanum tribe ? 



Once, when a boy, I found a voracious Sphinx upon "pusley," 

 the "mean" weed of the garden, and reared it to the moth the 

 white -lined Sphinx. The following year I found the same cater- 

 pillar on the flowering portulaca, and I have no doubt he is as fond 

 of the " spring beauty " as are the poets, if we could only chance 

 to observe it, for the Purslane family embraces all these plants. 



The botanical acumen of the Sphinx extends to various other 

 plant tribes. The sphinx Kalmia knows not only the mountain- 

 laurel, but many other heathworts, notably whortleberry, azalea, 

 and cranberry. The Oleander sphinx finds the oleander flavor in 



