COS 



INSECTA. 



THE SECOND FAMILY OF THE LEPIDOPTERA,— 



The Crepuscularia, — 



Has, near the origin of the external edge of tlie hind wings, a stiff bristle, which passes through a hook 

 on the under side of the fore-wings, maintaining tliem whilst in repose in a horizontal or inclined 

 position ; according to Godart, however, some of the Smerinthi are nevertheless destitute of this in- 

 strument, w'hich is also found in the following faiuily, but the Crepuscularire are distinguished by their 

 antenna; forming an einngiitcd mass, either prismatic or fusiform. Tlieir caierpillars have always sixteen 

 feet ; their chrysalides are not angnlated like those of the Diurnal Lepiduptera, and are mostly in- 

 closed in a cocoon, or are concealed either in the earth or beneath some substance. They mostly lly 

 either in the morning or evening [twilight]. This family composes the genus 



Si'HiNX, Linn., — 

 Which has derived its name from the peculiar attitudes of the larvse, which resemble the fabled Sphinx. 



They make a humming noise during flight. I divide this genus into four sections, corresponding to the 

 Fabrician genera Castnia, Sji/i/nx, Sesia, and Zi/ga;na. 



The first, IIesperi-sphingks, is composed of Lepidoptera which evidently seem to connect the Iles- 

 perla: and true Spliingcs. The antennrc are always simple, thickened in the njiddie, or towards the tip, 

 which forms a pointed hook without a bundle of hairs at the end. All have a very distinct proboscis, 

 and the palpi are composed of three distinct joints. In some, the terminal joint is long, slender, and 

 nearly naked, as in Urania; in others they are shorter and broader. 



Agarista, Lead), has the palpi lonp;, with the terminal joiut nearly naked ; the anfei'inre t^'-radually thickened in 

 tlie iniihlle, and terminated by a lon^ hook. [New Holland insects.] 



C'jci/tia, Boisduval, has glass-like wini^s ; the palpi are as in Urania, and the antenna' as in Ag^ri?ta. 



Coi-ntiix, Latr., has the palpi similar, suddenly terminated in a clid>, with a hook at the tip. [A lirazilian species.] 



Castiiin, Fabr., has tlie antennae like those of A^^arista, but the palpi are shorter, broader, and cylindric. [See 

 the monographs of Dalman, Gray, and tlie Enajclopcdic Method tqne.'] 



The second section, Springides, has the antenna; always terminated by a small brush of scales ; the 

 palpi are broad or transversely compressed, very squamose, with the third joint mostly indistinct. The 

 majority of the cater[)i]lars have the body smooth, elongated, with a horn on the back, near the ex- 

 tremity of the body ; and the sides oblique or longitudinally strii)ed. They feed on leaves, and 

 undergo their changes in the earth without weaving a web. Such are the species of 



Sphinx, Linn, [or the Hawk Moths], — 

 Projierly so called, which have the antennae prismatic, simply ciliated, or striated on one side, and which 

 have a distinct proboscis. 7'hey fly with great swiftness, hovering over flowers, and making a humming 

 sound; the chrysalides of some species have the tongue-case exserted like a nose, as in Sph'uur Convol- 



vuli, the Unicorn Hawk IMoth. 



The species are numerous, and of verylarg"e size. 

 One of the largest, is the Death's Head Moth, Sphinx 

 Almpos, Linn, [belon^in?; to the subgenus .icAero;(/m, 

 (.)eh.], remarkable for the skull-hke patch on the back 

 (if the thorax, and for the squeaking kind of noise it 

 emits, wliich has been supposed by Reaumur to be 

 caused by rubbing the palpi against each other, and 

 by Lorey to be owing to the rapid escape of the air from 

 two ventral cavities ; the caterpillar is of a very large 

 size, and feeds on potatoes, jasmine, &c. 

 The larvae of other species [forming the subgenus 

 Eiimnrpha, Ht»., or Mt'fopsi/itx, Duncan], have the power of thrusting oat the front of the body to a great 

 length, [whence they have obtained the name of Elephant Hawk I\Ioths,j such as -Sp/i. Elpenor, PorccfluSy &c. 



tlther Sphin-ides have the body terminated by u tassel of scales. Scopoli formed them into a distinct genus, 

 Macyifilussiini. .Such are the Huniming-Bird Hawk-Moth {Sph. stcUatantm), and the Broad and Narrow-borilcred 

 Jlee-iMiitlis [Sp/i. fifci/iirmis, Boinbijlifonnis, &c.), the two last of which have the wings glassy. [This group of 

 Hawk .Moths is remarkable for flying in the hottest sunshine.] 



Siiii-riiilhirs, Latr., has the antenna sen-ated, and the tongue wanting. T!ie species are sluggish in their flight, 

 and tlir hind \vihgs extend be\ond the fnre ones in rppot,e, as in many nutths. Sjih. T//i.r, Fn/'ii/i, ami orcJhi-a. 



. 120.— Aiiicrontla n 



