264 Studies in the Theory of Descent. 



Strictly speaking the same should be said of 

 the other species nevertheless their comparison 

 with the so similarly marked Smerinthincz, toge- 

 ther with the circumstance that in certain species 

 a subdorsal line can be traced, makes it appear 

 correct to suppose that here also the subdorsal 

 was the primary marking, this line being subse- 

 quently entirely replaced by the oblique stripes. 

 The Sphingina would therefore be a younger 

 group than the Smerinthince, a conclusion which 

 is borne out by the fact that in the former the 

 oblique stripes have reached a higher development, 

 being always of two, and sometimes even of three 

 colours (S. Drupiferarum, white, red, black), whilst 

 in the species of Smerinthus they only occasionally 

 possess uniformly coloured borders. 



THE GENUS ANCERYX, BOISD. 



Although this genus is not admitted into most 

 of the European catalogues the solitary European 

 species representing it being referred to the genus 

 Sphinx, Linn. 63 its separation from Sphinx 

 appears to me to be justified, not because of the 

 striking differences presented by the moths, but 

 because the caterpillars, judging from the little 

 we know of them, likewise show a similar degree 

 of difference. 



68 [The species referred to is placed by Butler in Hiibner's 

 genus Hyloicus. R.M.] 



