[■73 ] 



II. On flic Sphingidse of Peru. JSy the Eev. A. Miles Moss, M.A., F.Z.S., F.E.S. 

 With a Preface hj Kakl Jordan, Ph.D. 



(Received April 13th, 1911 ; Eead May 23rd, 1911.) 



[Plates VI.-XV.] 



COSTENIS. 



Page 



I. Preface 73 



II. Introduction 75 



III. Descriptions of tlie iripeciea 83 



IV. Detail Index Ill 



V. Explanation of the Plates 115 



I.— PREFACE. 

 By Kael Joedan, Ph.D. 



J. HE great difficulties which a traveller encounters when trying to rear insects, 

 together with the little encouragement which the professional collector receives from 

 the average amateur on whose financial support he depends, and the insufficient 

 knowledge of the majority of resident collectors in the tropics, are the chief reasons 

 for the scantiness of our knowledge of the early stages of tropical Lepidoptera. While 

 large consignments of butterflies and moths come regularly to Europe from many 

 countries where Europeans have settled, one rarely meets with a resident collector 

 who is willing to devote also time to the preservation of the early stages. 



The Sphingidte, of which about 850 different species are known, are for the greater 

 part confined to the tropics, and for that reason we are sufficiently acquainted with 

 the life-history and habits of only a comparatively small number. When writing a 

 'Revision' of the family with the Hon. L. W. Rothschild, I was much hampered by 

 these lacunae in knowledge, and it gave me, therefore, much pleasure when the Rev. A. 

 Miles Moss stated in a letter from Callao that he was interested in the early stages 

 of Lepidoptera, especially Sphingidae, and would do his best to rear and figure as 

 many species as possible of those which he might encounter in Peru. However, as 

 experience has taught me not to be too sanguine, I expected but moderate results, and 

 was agreeably surprised when Mr. Moss, on his return from Peru, showed the fruits of 

 his labours. 



Mr. Moss had two important points in his favour, which are rarely met with in the 

 same person : love of the subject and great skill with the brush. The result of this 

 happy combination was bound to surpass our expectations, and I may state, without 



VOL. XX. — PAKT II. No. 1. — April, 1912. l 



