526 THE HUMMING-BIRD HAWK-MOTH. 



proboscis of an elephant, a faculty which has earned for another insect the name of 

 elephant hawk-moth. 



This species is very rare in this country, probably because the plant on which the 

 caterpillar feeds does not belong to the British flora. It has, however, been captured 

 on one or two occasions. The caterpillar is grayish green, except the four first seg- 

 ments, which are pale yellow, and along each side runs a streak of white. On the sides 

 alone are seen those oblique streaks which are found in so many of the caterpillars 

 belonging to this family. The color, however, changes considerably with the period of 

 growth, so that while at one time it takes the coloring above-mentioned, at another it is 

 almost uniform yellow, and at another becomes quite dark. The white stripe along 

 the sides, however, always retains its place. 



The general color of the moth is olive-green, streaked and shaded with rose-color, 

 gray, and white. As is unfortunately the case with many brightly colored insects, the 

 Oleander Hawk-moth is very apt to fade if exposed to the light, and if the cabinet in 

 which it is placed be not carefully darkened, the delicate green is sure to take an 

 unpleasant dusky hue. The expanse of wing is about four inches. 



ALTHOUGH not gifted with the brilliant hues which decorate so many of the Hawk- 

 moths, the HUMMING-BIRD MOTH is a more interesting creature than many an insect 

 which can boast of treble its dimensions and dazzling richness of color. This insect 

 may be readily known by its very long proboscis, the tufts at the end of the abdomen, 

 and the peculiar flight, which so exactly resembles that of the humming-bird, that 

 persons accustomed to those feathered genus have often been deluded into the idea 

 that England actually possesses a true humming-bird. 



Its flight is not unlike that of the horse-flies. Balancing itself upon wings that 

 quiver with such rapidity that their outline is hardly distinguishable, this moth hovers 

 before any flower that may take its fancy, and plunging its long tongue into the deepest 

 recesses of the blossom, extracts the sweet contents without needing to alight. Indeed, 

 the whole of its flight is a strange mixture of apparent vagueness and swift accuracy, 

 as it darts hither and thither with such lightning speed that the eye can scarce follow 

 its course, ever and anon poising itself so that the body remains as still as if pinned to 

 the spot, while the whirring wings are scarcely visible. I have lately seen one of these 

 moths surveying the whole extent of a new brick wall, but after watching it for a long 

 time, could not make out what might be its object. 



Owing to this arrowy flight and the piercing vision with which such flight is always 

 accompanied, the capture of the moth is a matter of no small difficulty, and when it 

 settles, the quiet sober hues of its plumage render it so similar in color to the objects 

 on which it rests, that the eye can hardly distinguish its outline ; and, being gifted 

 with an instinctive appreciation of the objects best suited for its concealment, it is 

 sure to alight on some surface which presents hues akin to those of its body andwings. 



The caterpillar of this moth is of a pale green color, with a whitish stripe along the 

 side, and sprinkled with numerous little white spots. On its tail it has a short and 

 sharp horn, the tip of which is of an orange yellow color. It feeds on many plants, 

 preferring those of the stellate order, and from that circumstance the moth derives its 

 specific name of stellatarnm. The Galeum seems to be its favorite plant. 



The moth is seldom seen during the hot hours of the day, but comes from its place 

 of concealment in the early morning and towards evening, and as it has a curious cus- 

 tom of frequenting gardens and cultivated grounds, affords many opportunities for 

 observation. It is bold as well as cautious, as if aware of its marvellous powers of 

 flight, and will even enter greenhouses in search of some blossom that may have taken 

 its fickle fancy. 



The color of the upper wings is dusky brown, with a few blackish waved bars, 

 and that of tlie under wings brownish yellow, with darker edges. The abdomen is 

 nearly of the same color as the upper wings, and the segments are decorated with tufts 

 of black and white hairs at the sides. The spread of wings is rather under two inches. 



IN the curious moths of which the HYLAS is a good example, the wings are as 

 transparent as those of the bee tribe, and, indeed, the hymenopterous idea seems to run 





