SPHINGID^ OF PERU. 85 



high up in the tree. Frass of normal hexagonal form until final instar, when it is 

 peculiar and deceptive, invariably breaking up into twenty-one small fiagments at the 

 moment of extrusion *. The enormous pupa is sometimes discovered in a large earth- 

 cavity near the tree-roots. Moth sometimes at rest on tree-trunks, often attracted 

 to the electric arc lamps in the middle of Lima. 



Ova. — Singly on upper or under side of leaves oi Anona cherimolia. Large, spherical, 

 opalescent green, with blood-red streak prior to emergence. 



Lakva. — First instar (fig. a). Plain green, darker dorsally, no stripes. Caudal horn 

 about two-thirds of entire length, glossy, black, and rough, with a white ring about 

 the centre and culminating in two points with bristles. 



The young larva is then very lively, and can at will, and generally when walking, 

 erect its tail vertically. Its early history reveals striking features which it shares in 

 common with the infant Pholus fasciatus, features entirely lost after the first moult. 

 At this period the head is large, round, and slightly bifid on the crown. 



Second and tJdrd instars (fig. h). A curious object, wonderfully well protected as it 

 clings elevated and motionless to the midrib on the under side of a large leaf. The 

 anterior portion tapers off to the head in an almost exaggerated fashion, and using the 

 fourth and anal claspers only, which are strongly developed, for their function of 

 clinging, it rests with the first nine segments elevated from, though almost parallel 

 with, the leaf, and resembles a geometer. From being round and bifid the head is 

 now almost triangular, the apex pointing forward when the larva is at rest, in con- 

 tinuation of the line of the back f. The caudal horn is now normal in size, rough, stiff 

 and straight, and is held in the same line with the body. The colour, including head 

 and horn, is plain white-green, seven rib-like oblique stripes marking the sides in darker 

 green and an eighth in pure white leading up to the base of the horn. A medio- 

 dorsal stripe of dull green commences on the back of the head and fades away as the 

 horn is approached. Almost the entire surface is thinly coated with fine, short, white 

 hair, an exceptional feature with Sphiugid larva;. 



Fourth and final instars (fig. c). The skin becomes much wrinkled vertically, and 

 a short stubbly reddish hair becomes a very noticeable feature. The head, though 

 still triangular and slightly notched on the crown, is much rounder at the sides. The 

 horn is now exceptionally thick and rough, blunt at the tip, and only slightly curved ; 

 in colour it is white-pink and highly glazed like porcelain. The general ground- 

 colour varies between a heavy white-green or yellow-green. From head to tail runs a 

 distinct mauve or violet medio-dorsal stripe, broad in the middle, tapering to the 



* Fig. d represents oac-third of a single pellet. 



f By an error on the part of the gentleman who kindly corrected the proof of PI. VII. in my absence, a 

 rounded head and legs have been added to fig. h ; the unusual tapering shape of the anterior segments, 

 showing only the hack of an extremely pointed head, being mistaken for an unfinished drawing. The true 

 ventral line may still be traced. 



