HE LEON A fenestrate 

 Australian Burnet. 



Tribe Sphingides. Family Anthoceridae. Sw. (Zyganidae Auct.) 



Genus — ? 



Sub-generic Characters. 



Anterior Wings papilioniform, i. e. the exterior margin as long, or 

 longer, than that of the posterior; inferior wings lengthened 

 perpendicularly, but short and rounded ; Antennae pectinate in 

 both sexes. 



Type Phalcena militaris. Lin. Don. Ins. of China, pi. 43. 



Specific Character. 



Wings hyaline, clouded with irregular' waved bars of blue ; body, 

 thorax, and macular band round the margin of the inferior 

 wings, orange. 



The diurnal or Heliconean Hawk-mouths, form one of the 

 most natural and remarkable groups among" Lepedopterous 

 insects. They fly during the heat of the day ; and, (as 

 representing in their own family the tribe of Phalaenides) 

 they have much of the general appearances of moths. In 

 their slow flight, long transparent wings, and proneness to 

 imitate death on being handled, they afford a most beautiful 

 analogy to the Heliconian Butterflys. Both have their 

 chief metropolis in equinoctial America, and both find their 

 prototypes in the lovely family of Erycinidae. It is really 

 surprizing that searchers after the natural system, should 

 have overlooked such a group. 



Among the comparatively few genera of this division, 

 found in India and the adjacent islands, is that now first 

 defined : and we illustrate it by a new and very rare species, 

 even in its OAvn country. It was twice seen by Mr. Cun- 

 ningham, on the North West Coast of Australia ; once in 

 shady woods descending to the shores of York Island, and 

 again in nutmeg woods adjoining Brunswick Bay. 



The form of the wings, which strongly resemble those of 

 the sub-family Papilionse will immediately distinguish this 

 from all the American genera. The plant, Pattersonia 

 fflauca, is of a sub-genus also peculiar to New Holland. 



116. 



