35 



likely to be disputed, nor the fact that it takes place somewhere 

 in the neighbourhood of the genus Castnia. 



The next type is Sphinx Ligustri ; and here again our British 

 collections are obliged to plead poverty ; few, however, as they 

 are at present, I am compelled, if I purpose consulting nature, 

 to reduce them about half: the vEgerias and Zygasnge must be 

 moved elsewhere ; they look like Sphinges, but are none. I 

 will begin then with Castnia, of which no more need be said. 

 The next striking departure from the type occurs in having the 

 abdomen furnished with tufts or brushes, which the insect spreads 

 as it hovers over flowers, somewhat in the manner of a bird's tail. 

 The long porrected antlia also has a resemblance, perhaps rather 

 fancied than real, to the slender bill of a humming-bird, whence 

 the tribe has received with us the name of English humming- 

 birds. The genus Sesia I will place on the circumference of 

 the circle, not doubting but nearer approaches to the Cossi 

 may be discovered, or are even now known, but no better exists 

 among our own Sphinges. The next point of contact will be with 

 Pyralis ; and here the genus ffigocera, figured in the Regne Ani- 

 mal, seems to claim its station : it is a decided Sphinx, with the 

 palpi of Hypena proboscidalis, and Latreille has placed it between 

 Sesia and Zygasna, from which it will be seen that I differ only in 

 making Zygaena pass over the boundary line and into the next 

 section. 



We enter the third sub-class then at Pyralis, and find ourselves 

 among some of the most beautiful little creatures in existence — 

 sylph-like beings, which spend their lives in the brightest sun- 

 shine and among the sweetest flowers. Linnaeus considered them 

 Sphinges, from what character is not very apparent : the sub-cha- 

 racter, applicable only to this section, is certainly correct ; they 

 are truly " larva diversce." As for the antennae being " medio 

 crassiores" it is not the case, unless the increase and decrease of 

 pectination can be considered as making them so. Of this parti- 

 cular tribe Latreille observes, " Les autres lepidopteres de cette 

 division ont dans les deux sexes, des antennes garnies d'un double 

 rang de dents alongees ou bipectinees. Ceux qui ont une trompe 

 distincte forment le genre Glaucopis ; ceux ou cette organe manque 

 ou 11 est pas distinct celui d' Aglaope — ces crepusculaires semblent 



