CATALOGUE OF MOTHS. 39 



SPHINX, Linn. 

 4. Sphinx Convolvuli, Linn. Conyolvulus Haavk Moth. 

 Sphinx Convolvuli. Staint. Man., voL i., p. 89. 

 ,, ,, I^ewm. Brit. Moths, p. 6. 



,, ,, Barr. Lep. Brit. Is., vol. ii., p. 22. 



,, ,, Meyr. Hdbk. Brit. Lep., p. 248. 



Laeva. Buck., vol. ii., pi. xxi., lig. 2, and pi. xxii., fig. 1. 



This noble insect was formerly a great rarity in Britain, and 

 especially so in the North of England. In 1846 a large migra- 

 tory swarm reached our shores, and a similar flight arrived in 

 1887. In the years 1858-9, 1868, 1875, and 1885 it occurred 

 in considerable numbers, but not in such abundance as in the 

 two years first named. There is no doubt that on all these 

 occasions it passed through all its transformations here, but I 

 am not aware that the larva was ever found within our district, 

 in fact it has very seldom been met with in Britain, but this is 

 because it feeds only at night and hides under the surface of the 

 soil by day. An imago found in a garden at Hartlepool, and 

 given to Mr. Gardner, had undoubtedly fed on the Convolvulus 

 sepium which grew by the house side where it was taken, for 

 the Moth emitted the red fluid, always ejected before flight, 

 after it came into Mr. Gardner's possession. Convolvuli is an 

 insect of such powerful flight that it may be met with anywhere, 

 and is more frequently picked up casually, than captured by 

 Entomologists, though when abundant it is often taken at Petu- 

 nias and other attractive flowers. I give a few localities for its 

 occurrence. '' I^ear Darlington and Newcastle — Mr. J. 0. Back- 

 house — a few specimens have been met with near Newcastle. 

 G. Wailes, Esq." (Step., lUust. Haust, vol. 1, p. 121). ''At 

 rest on a keel up the Tyne." Y. E,. Perkins. (Ent. W. Intell., 

 voL X., p. 202). One at Swalwell by Mr. G. Nowell, 187]. 

 ''One at Axwell by Mr. Nowell, 1872." T. H. Hedworth. 

 "Abundant along the coast in 1875." W. Maling. "Thirty 

 at Darlington in 1875." J. Sang. "A fine specimen was found 

 at rest on a scaffolding pole at South Shields," 1876. J. C. 

 Wasserman. (N. H. Tr., vol. v., p. 285). Other records are — • 



