370 



VII. 



PHYLETIC DEVELOPMENT OF THE MARKINGS OF 

 THE SPHINGID^E : SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION. 



IF, from the form possessed by many of the cater- 

 pillars of the Sphingida on their emergence from 

 the egg, we may venture to draw a conclusion 

 concerning the oldest phyletic stage, these larvae 

 were originally completely destitute of marking. 

 The characteristic caudal horn must be older 

 than the existing markings, since it is present in 

 the younger stages (except in cases where it is 

 altogether wanting), and is generally even larger 

 than at a later age. 



There is, however, further evidence that there 

 were once Sphinx-larvae without any markings. 

 Such a species now exists. I do not mean the 

 boring caterpillars of the Sesiidce^ which live in the 

 dark, and are therefore colourless, but I refer to a 



1 [Mr. A. G. Butler has recently advanced the view that 

 this family is not allied to the Sphingidcz, but is related on the 

 one side to the Py rates, and on the other to the Gelechiidce. 

 See his paper " On the Natural Affinities of the Lepidopterous 

 Family JEgcriidte," Trans. Ent. Soc. 1878, p. 121. R.M.] 



