SPHINX, 45S 



Genus II. — Sphinx, 



This tribe contain^; all thofe infe£ls which hold au Inter- 

 mediate ftation, between the butterflies and moths. Their 

 antennae are of a prifmatic form, thicker in the middle 

 than at the extremity ; their wings fold down over the 

 back when at reft ; vv'hen on the wing their motions are 

 flow and henvj. The moths, or phalccnce are nodlurnal 

 infefts. The butterfly makes its appearance in the open 

 day; while the excuriions of the fphinx are chiefly in the 

 twilight of morning and evening *. 



The infecls belonging to this genus, though far lefs 

 numerous in their varieties, prefent not uniformly the 

 fame characters to the obferver ; fome have angulated 

 "ivIn<Ts ; in others, the wings are entire ; fome are known 

 by a bsrb, or tuft of hair growing from the anus ; 

 while many are diftinguifned by other differences in their 

 external appearance, both in the larva; and winged flate. 

 Thefe Lift, Limueus has termed adfcitce, as if brought in- 

 to the family by a fort of adoption, and thus diftinguifh- 

 ed from the legitimate fphinxes. 



The name of fphinx has been given to the infe£ls of 

 this genus from the fingular attitude in which they are 

 often feen in their caterpillar ftate ; the hinder part o 

 tiie body is then feen attached to the branch of a tree, 



while 



* Syflcma Nature, Ortl. III. gen 2, 



