Family SPHINGID^E, 



L— GENERAL INTRODUCTION. 



Moths of the family Sphingidje, or Hawk-Moths, can, with 

 few exceptions, be distinguished from other lepidopterous 

 insects by their general appearance. The long, narrow, 

 pointed fore wing, the short, triangular hind wing, the large 

 eye, powerful thorax and sharply-pointed abdomen, the grace- 

 ful, high-bred appearance of the whole creature, can hardly be 

 mistaken. These characters are very constant throughout 

 the family ; although the end of the abdomen appears in 

 some species, such as the Humming-bird Hawk-Moths 

 (Macroglossum) , to be broad instead of pointed, this broadening 

 is only apparent, being caused by the expansion of lateral 

 scales. When these have been removed the abdomen is 

 found to be pointed as in other species. The venation of the 

 wings, the smooth and appressed hair or scales of the body, 

 and other external characters are also very constant. The 

 antenna is filiform or setiform in many species, but is more 

 or less strongly clubbed in others. There are usually spines 

 on the abdomen and the tibiae. The moths vary greatly 

 in size, the largest being equal in bulk, but not in expanse 

 of wing, to the largest moths, and the smallest with an expanse 

 of only 20 mm. from wing -tip to wing -tip. The length of the 

 tongue also varies greatly in different species, from being the 

 longest tongue found in any insect (Cocytius, 250 mm.) to two 

 tubercles barely 2 mm. in length. In the Indian Herse 

 convolvuli it may reach a length of 130 mm., or nearly 

 5 inches, while in other species it is short and functionless. 

 The labial palpi are usually large, but, like the tongue and 

 other organs, may be much reduced. There is, throughout 

 the family, a tendency to the modification and reduction 

 of many organs. The colour of the moths is usually sober 

 and cryptic, resembling the bark of trees and other natural 

 objects, but some of the species are brightly coloured, and 

 most have pleasing tones and markings. Some species 

 mimic very closely bees and other insects, but there does not 

 appear to be any Hawk-Moth which mimics another Hawk- 

 Moth. The colouring of the male and female moths is usually 

 the same, but the sexes are differently coloured in some species. 

 vol. v. B 



SEP 1 4 1937 



