104 



PHILAMPELUS VITIS. 



PLATE V. 



Sphinx vitis, Linn. Syst. Nat. ; Merian, Surin. Lis., t. 47, f. 1 ; 

 Cram. Pap. Exot., t. 267, fig. C. ; Abbot and Smith, Lepid, 

 Geor., i. pi. 40 ; Drury, Ins., i. pi. 28, fig. 1. 



On first examining this beautiful sphinx, we are at 

 some loss to determine to which of the modern 

 genera of the family it should be referred. It has 

 obviously some relationship to Daphnis, and the at- 

 tenuated anterior segments of the caterpillar might 

 lead us at first sight to suppose it to be a species of 

 Metopsilus. We soon perceive, however, that these 

 segments are not so suddenly narrowed, and therefore 

 not so perfectly retractile as in a genuine Chenille 

 cockonne^ while the absence of the lateral ocellated 

 marks is a still further proof of deviation from that 

 genus. After fully considering its peculiarities, Dr. 

 Harris, in his valuable Memoir on the American 

 Sphingidas, found it necessary to make it the type 

 of a new genus, which he names Philampelus. He 

 says, of this and the other insects belonging to the 

 genus so designated, " They cannot with propriety 

 be included in the genus Chaerocampa of Duponchei 

 or Metopsilus of Duncan, to which they approach 

 the nearest. They, indeed, seem to form a charac- 

 teristic and typical group peculiar to the New 

 World." Besides the species here figured, S. sahel- 

 litia and S. achemon belong to this group. 



