THE OLEANDER HAWK-MOTH. 525 



with a red deep pile, and feel like velvet under the .fingers. A fine specimen of the 

 Death's-head Moth is the largest of our British insects, and, indeed, almost the largest 

 insect found in Europe, the spread of wing sometimes reaching nearly six inches. The 

 antennae are remarkable for their stiff and sturdy make and the curious hood with 

 which they are terminated. 



* 



\Ve now arrive at the typical genus of the family, of which the CONVOLVULUS HAWK- 

 MOTH affords a good example. It may be mentioned that the term Sphingidze is de- 

 rived from the peculiar attitude sometimes assumed by the caterpillars, which have 

 a custom of raising the fore part of the body so as to bear a fanciful resemblance to 

 the well known attitude in which the Egyptians were accustomed to represent the 

 mysterious Sphinx. 



The fine insect which has been chosen for an illustration of this genus is scarce 

 throughout England, but seems to be found sparingly in most parts of the country, 

 especially towards the south. As is the case with many of the nocturnal moths, its eyes 



UNICORN HAWK-MOTH. SpAtoT coavolvuli, 



shine brightly at night, and on account of their great size are very conspicuous in this 

 respect. The specific name of the moth has been given to it because the caterpillar is 

 known to feed on the common field convolvulus or bindweed, and it is sometimes 

 known by the title of Convolvulus or Bindweed Hawk-moth. The caterpillar is mostly 

 green, spotted and splashed with black and brown, and having a row of oblique stripes 

 on each side. Generally the stripes are yellow, and edged with black, but they are 

 sometimes wholly of the bolder color, while the entire caterpillar sometimes assumes 

 a brownish hue. Upon the end of the tail there is a sharp curved horn, quite harm- 

 less, and whose use is at present unknown. The color of the wings is mostly wood- 

 brown, checkered with ash, gray, and white, and the abdomen is ringed with broad 

 bands of rose-color and narrow stripes of black, while down its centre runs a broad 

 streak of gray. 



We have several other fine British insects belonging to this genus, such as the 

 PRIVET HAWK-MOTH (Sphinx-Ligustri}, and the PINE HAWK-MOTH (Sphinx Pinastrt). 



THE beautiful OLEANDER HAWK-MOTH belongs to another genus, in which the 

 caterpillar has the power of prolonging or withdrawing the head and neck like the 



