161 



wings, which is received into a kind of hook, situated 

 beneath the upper pair, and keeps them, when in repose, 

 in an inclined or horizontal position ; their antennae are 

 for the most part prismatic or angular in their shape, 

 or sometimes they are toothed like a comb. Their cater- 

 pillars have always sixteen feet, and their chrysalids are 

 destitute of the angular projections which frequently 

 exist in those of the Diurnal species. They are, more- 

 over, generally enclosed in a cocoon, and sometimes 

 buried in the earth. These insects are only seen on the 

 wing in the grey dawn of morning or in the evening 

 twilight. The type of the family is the genus Sphinx, so 

 called because the usual attitude assumed by their cater- 

 pillars resembles that attributed to the Sphinx of ancient 

 fable. These insects in their perfect state fly with great 

 rapidity, hence is derived their name of Hawk-moth ; 

 they may frequently be seen poising themselves on the 

 wing before the bells of tubular flowers, from which they 

 extract the nectar by means of their long and flexible 

 proboscis. The largest of our native species is 



The Death's-head Hawk-moth (Sphinx Atropos), so 

 called from a singular mark resembling a skull and cross 

 bones, which it bears at the back of its thorax. Pro- 

 bably on account of its carrying these lugubrious in- 



FIG. 122. DEATH'S-HEAD HAWK-MOTH. 



signia, this fine insect is generally looked on by the igno- 

 rant with superstitious dread, and its occasional twilight 

 intrusion into a house is an event commonly regarded 

 with horror. Yet it is a harmless creature, except that it 



