Marsh. 205 



relations with the same habit have been called Sphinx 

 moths, from a fancied resemblance, when adopting this 

 peculiar position, to the Egyptian Sphinx. 



There is a larva of the Eyed Hawk moth, in which the 

 bright green colour is changing to purplish brown. This 

 shows that the insect is nearly ready to pupate. On the 

 tree, among the leaves, its green colour aids it in escaping 

 from those enemies which prey on it ; but when full fed it 

 has a long journey to make along the branches, down the 



'V 

 FIG. 44. CATERPILLAR OF PRIVET HAWK-MOTH (Sphinx ligustri}. 



trunk, and perhaps for a considerable distance over the 

 ground, before finally selecting a spot in which to burrow, 

 for it changes to a chrysalis underground. The green colour 

 would be very conspicuous as it crawled down the trunk and 

 over the dark ground ; but by changing to a dark purplish- 

 brown colour, it becomes much less conspicuous, and is much 

 more likely to escape. This is not the only larva that 

 changes thus. Most of its near relations which have green 

 larvse do the same, and each one generally changes his tint 

 thus, before 



"Deep under earth his darkling course he bends, 

 And to the tomb a willing guest descends ; 

 There, long secluded in his lonely cell, 

 Forgets the sun and bids the world farewell. 



