1875-1876.] l %9 



gardens. It may, however, often be seen and not caught. M. 

 bombyliformis, is also certain to be met with in its haunts, by those 

 who look for it at the proper season, flying backwards and forwards 

 with great rapidity in some narrow woody glade, or along the bed 

 of some stream that passes through a glen. It requires a trained 

 eye readily to distinguish it from a bee, and a trained hand to 

 catch it as it darts past. It may at once be known from a humble 

 bee, however, on the wing, by the projecting antennae which it 

 carries as a horn in front. 6". bembiciformis I have found abun- 

 dantly in the larva state in old willow trees, everywhere. The best 

 way to obtain good specimens is to examine the stems of the trees, 

 and find where the larvae are at work ; leave them in peace until 

 they have changed into pupae, when the piece of wood in which 

 they are may be sawed out with the pupae undisturbed within. 

 Z. Filipendulce. —the only one of the genus I have found in the 

 North of Ireland, is abundant both in the hilly and sea-side dis- 

 tricts. Of the other Sphingidcz, C. Elpenor has been taken not 

 rarely in the larva state around Belfast. I have captured seven 

 specimens in the imago state the same evening, hovering over a 

 plant of rhododendron, in the County Wicklow. C. Procellns I 

 have from County Meath and further South, where it is not un- 

 common, taken generally at honeysuckle. I have no doubt it is 

 to be found, if looked for, where there are large beds of the plant 

 on which the larva feeds, the yellow bed-straw. S. Convolvidi has 

 been taken by Mr. Preston at Dunmore, Antrim Road, at verbenas, 

 in the evening. One specimen taken by me at Glenarm, at rest ; 

 and two at phlox the same evening in County Wicklow. I can 

 give no directions for the capture of the other Sphinges I exhibit, 

 A. Atropos, S. Ligustriy and Ocellatus, and the still more rare 

 Livor?iica. The last two were taken at light at night. The col- 

 lector must patiently wait and watch, before, either from larvae or 

 from captures of the imago, he is able to add these splendid speci- 

 mens to his collection. They are, however, to be obtained in 

 Ireland, as you may see. 



Of the Bombyces a considerable number may be captured the 



