26 
Fig. 1. Sphinx Ligustri, the Privet Hawk-moth, 
is a very common species. The caterpillar is pale 
green, with seven oblique violet-blue stripes on 
each side, bordered with white below. When at 
rest, it sits up in a posture which has been imagined 
to resemble that of an Egyptian Sphinx, and this 
is the origin of the name now given to the 
whole family. Its favourite food is privet, but it 1s 
sometimes found on other trees. 
Fig. m. Sphinx Convolvul, the Unicorn Hawk- 
moth is an autumn insect, and is uncertain in ap- 
pearance, being much commoner in some years than 
in others. The caterpillar, which is brown or green, 
may be met with on the ground, hidden under bind- 
weed. When weeds were allowed to grow more 
freely, it used frequently to be found on bindweed 
growing among corn in England. The moth is re- 
markable for the great length of its proboscis. 
Fig. n. Acherontia Atropos, the Death's Head 
Hawk-moth, is the largest moth found in England. 
It has derived its name from the curious markings 
on the back of the thorax, which have some resem- 
blance to a skull. The caterpillar is yellowish green, 
and feeds on various plants, but in England is 
generally found on potato. It is never common 
enough to do any real harm; but the large dark 
reddish-brown pupa is often dug up in potato-fields 
in autumn. 
Fig. 0. Macroglossa stellatarum, the Hum- 
ming-Bird Hawk-moth, flies very rapidly over flowers 
by day, in the manner of a humming-bird; it is 
remarkable for its tufted abdomen. The green cater- 
pillar feeds on bedstraw. In some allied species 
found in woods in spring, the wings are transparent, 
with reddish-brown borders. 
Family Il. A€geriida. These are small moths, 
with long tapering and generally tufted bodies, 
spindle-shaped antennae, ending in a tuft of scales, 
transparent wings with opaque borders; and 
yellow or red belts on the abdomen. They fly by 
day, and the larve are white, naked, and maggot- 
like, and live in the wood or in the roots of trees 
and plants. 
' Fig. p. d£geria apiformis is the largest species 
of this family, and may often be seen in early sum- 
mer sitting low down on the trunks of poplars, and 
looking very like a hornet. The larva feeds in the 
roots and trunks of poplars. 
Fig. q. Trochilium formiceforme is a smaller 
and scarcer species, which feeds on willows. 
Family Ill. Anthrocerida. These are small 
brightly coloured moths, with thick spindle-shaped 
antenna, curved at the tip. The wings are sloping, 
and the fore wings are spotted. The larve are 
cylindrical, and finely hairy; they feed on low 
plants, and form narrow boat-shaped parchment- 
like cocoons attached to the stalks of grass &c. 
The moths fly by day. 
Fig. r. <Anthrocera filipendule, the Six-spot 
Burnet, is the commonest species in England. It is 
often to be found in meadows in abundance, flying 
over the tops of the herbage, or resting on grass 
and flowers; perhaps several together on a large 
flower like a thistle. The caterpillar feeds on 
clover &c. 
Fig. s. Authrocera carniolica, which is common 
in many places on the Continent, differs from any 
British species in having the spots bordered with 
white. The caterpillar feeds on milk vetch, and 
other low plants. 



Plate XXVI (right hand). 
Family 1V. Hepialide. The antenne are short, 
and the wings long, and widely separated at the 
The moths fly in meadows after sunset. 
Fig. a. Hepialus humuli, the Ghost Moth. 
The male is white above and brown beneath, but 
the female has yellowish fore wings with red mark- 
ings, and dull reddish hind wings. The caterpillar 
is yellowish white, with black warts, and a brown 
head. It feeds on the roots of hop, nettle &c. It 
forms an oval cocoon with particles of earth at the 
roots of plants, and after a few days, the moth 
emerges. It has a peculiar hovering flight, and is 
often abundant in June and July. 
Family V. Zeuzerid#, The proboscis is absent, 
the wings strong, and the 
female is provided with an 
ovipositor. The larvae are 
smooth, with short scattered 
hairs. They feed in the 
wood of trees. 
Fig. b. Zeuzera esculi, 
the Wood Leopard Moth, is 
not very scarce in the sub- 
urbs of London. The cater- 
pillar is yellow, with small 
raised black dots, on which 
hairs are placed, and feeds 
in the young shoots and 
branches of trees, especially 
in young apple and _pear- 
trees, which it sometimes 
destroys, though it 1s seldom 
sufficiently abundant in Eng- 
land to cause very serious 
injury. The larva lives in 
the trees for two years, when 
it emerges from the pupa, 
which projects from the bark, 
in July and August. Ley 
Family VI. Psychida. The males of these 
curious little moths have strongly pectinated antennz 
and hairy bodies, but the black or grey wings are 
only thinly clothed with scales. 5 
The females are apterous, with 
a small head and thorax, and 
a large, nearly naked abdomen. 
The larve resemble those of 
caddisflies, for they live in a 
cylindrical tube, or in a case, 
which they construct  im- 
mediately on quitting the egg, 
from fragments of grass, stalks, 
bark, particles of earth &c., 
base. 

and which they enlarge as 
they grow. The cases are 
found on trees, grass, or 
rocks, generally in places 
sheltered from the wind. One 
of the largest European spe- 
cies is Psyche unicolor, which, 
however, is not found in Eng- 
land. It has black wings with 
white fringes, strongly pec- 
tinated antennz, and the head, 
thorax and abdomen clothed 
with rough hair. The insect 
is represented of the natural 
size in its various stages in the 

' accompanying figures, as follows: a@ male, 4 female, 
