286 Catalogue of North American Sphinges. 



ted beneath. Palpi pressed close to the face, short, thick, and obtuse, with the 

 %ird joint minute and concealed. Body thick ; abdomen conical and not tufted at 

 the end. Flight crepuscular. Larvae colored, naked, with a caudal horn, which 

 is sometimes obsolete and replaced by a callous spot; they devour the leaves of 

 plants, and go deep into the earth to transform, or conceal themselves upon the 

 surface, under leaves, in an imperfect cocoon. 



The North American genera in this family are six. 



Genus I. — Smerinthus. 



Wings more or less angular and indented, the front margin of the hind-wings 

 projecting beyond the upper or fore-wings when at rest. Antenna short, prismat- 

 ical and fusiform, arcuated or curved near the tip, transversely biciliated or bipec- 

 tinated beneath in the males. Tongue obsolete. Larvae granulated, with the head 

 triangular, horned on the tail, obliquely banded on each side, and transforming in 

 the earth. 



Genus II. — Oeratomia. 



Wings entire. Antennae elongated, abruptly ending in a short and slender hook, 

 transversely biciliated beneath in the males. Palpi horizontal and nearly cylin- 

 drical. Tongue moderate. Abdomen longitudinally striped. Larvae with horns 

 on the fore-part of the body, a row of little teeth on the back, a long caudal horn, 

 and oblique bands on each side ; it transforms in the earth. 



Genus III. — Sphinx. 



Wings entire. Antennae long, abruptly ending in a short and slender hook, and 

 transversely biciliated beneath in the males. Palpi rising and enlarged at the 

 end. Tongue long. Abdomen spotted or transversely banded at the sides. Larvae 

 with oblique bands on the sides and a caudal horn, and transforming in the earth. 



Genus IV. — Philampelus. 



Wings sinous. Antennae long, attenuated at the end, with a long terminal hook, 

 and transversely biciliated beneath in the males. Tongue moderate. Abdomen 

 not transversely banded or spotted at the sides. Larva short, thick, with the head 

 and first three segments rather small and capable of being drawn more or less 

 within the fourth segment; when young with a long, slender, recurved caudal 

 horn, which subsequently disappears and is replaced by a callous spot ; sides with 

 oblique spots sloping backwards and downwards ; transforms in the earth. 



Genus V. — Choerocampa. 



Wings sinous or angulated. Antennae rather short and slender, generally arcua- 

 ted, tapering, and ending in a long hook ; more rarely straight, with a short termi- 

 nal hook ; transversely biciliated beneath in the males. Tongue moderate. Ab- 

 domen immaculate, or longitudinally striped, but never transversely banded at the 

 sides. Larvas elongated, the fore-part of the body tapering and retractile ; with 

 from one to three eye-like spots, or a series of oblique bands on each side ; caudal 

 horn short, sometimes obsolete and replaced by a callous spot ; transforms on the 

 surface of the ground, under leaves, in an imperfect cocoon. 



