BRITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS 



and burrows into the soil ready to pupate. The brownish 

 pupa is smooth, and somewhat polished. The two 

 "peacock" spots, or eyes, on the pinkish hindwings at 

 once distinguish this species, and make confusion 

 impossible. 



The rare Death's Head Hawk-Moth (so-called because 

 of the curious skull markings on the thorax of the imago), 

 Convolvulus Hawk-Moth, and several other rarities 

 need not detain us. This leaves us to deal only with the 

 remaining British species Hkely to be encountered, 

 namely, the Privet Hawk-Moth. 



Privet Hawk-Moth. — {Sphinx ligustri.) This species 

 is also apparently restricted to the South of England, 

 and even where privet abounds it does not always appear. 

 It may be expected abroad in July and August, and the 

 larva may occasionally be found on garden shrubs. 

 The eggs are laid along the under side of the midrib, 

 and when the handsome larva is full-fed it is quite 

 three inches long. Green in body-colour, with stripes 

 of heliotrope and white, and a prominent curved horn, it 

 is a striking object to encounter. The larvae of all these 

 Hawk-I\Ioths bear noticeable spiracles on the sides of 

 almost all the segments. The dark-coloured pupa is 

 hidden below ground, and a little pit is hollowed out 

 large enough to contain same. The moth does not 

 emerge until the following Summer. When it does so, 

 a very beautiful creature is to be seen, the chief feature 

 of which is perhaps the black and red bands on either 

 side of the abdomen, the wings being of wide stretch and 

 pale brown in colour, ornamented with black bands and 



streaks, and a tinge of pink. 



38 



