CULTURE OF THE GRAPE. 261 



CATERPILLARS. 



There are several kinds of caterpillar which feed upon 

 the vine, some of them being exceedingly voracious. 

 They are not so numerous as to be troublesome in most 

 sections; and are easily destroyed by hand-picking, as 

 their work becomes apparent. In some cases, it will be 

 necessary to pick entire leaves, or else dip the leaves in 

 strong whale-oil suds. Though these gourmands "will re- 

 quire looking after, yet it is not probable that they will 

 ever multiply so as to cause serious trouble. I condense 

 and arrange the following descriptions from the work of 

 Dr. Harris. LinnaBus gave the generic name of Sphinges 

 to a group of moths, from the fancied resemblance which 

 their caterpillars bore to the Egyptian Sphinx. These 

 caterpillars are often found supporting themselves by 

 their hind-legs, with the fore-part of their body elevated, 

 with Sphinx-like fixedness, for hours. The Sphinx genus 

 is subdivided; and one group is known as S. philampdus, 

 from the fact that the larvae or caterpillars feed upon the 

 vine. The caterpillars which produce the moth S. satel- 

 litia are pale -green or brown, with six cream-colored, 

 broad oval spots on their sides. 



