72 SPHINGIDiE. 



part also membranaceous ; from the vaginal cavity a narrow 

 stripe of chitin extends to each side ; the upper edges of these 

 plates continuous, forming an arcuate ridge which borders the 

 vagina] cavity behind ; the proximal edge of the cavity 

 formed by a very thin membranaceous fold, which is preceded 

 by a stronger fold. 



Hab. E.. Himalayas (Darjeeling ; Khasi Hills) and China. 

 Mell has bred the species in S. China, where it occurs in 

 mountainous country at an elevation of from 1,500 to 2,000 

 feet. 



Egg. — Relatively very small, broadly oval ; surface smooth 

 and shining ; colour pale yellow. Length 1-5 mm. ; breadth 

 1-25 mm. 



Larva : — 



Final instar. Body tapering slightly from segment 5 forward 

 to the large round head ; horn long, straight, conical. True 

 clypeus less than half the height of the head. Surface of head 

 and body dull ; the segments well defined, with five secondary 

 rings on segments 2 and 3, six on 4, and eight on 5 to 11 ; 

 each ring on 2 to 10 has a transverse row of small rounded 

 tubercles, which become smaller on the posterior segments and 

 disappear on 11 and 12 ; horn and faces of anal claspers 

 tuberculate and a triangle of polished, button-like tubercles 

 on the anal flap. Coloration: Head and body green above 

 the spiracles, greyish-green below these and on the venter ; 

 segments 2 to 4 immaculate ; yellow oblique stripes on 

 5 to 7 and on 11, the latter running across 12 to base of horn, 

 the dorsal area between the stripes lilac. Horn black above, 

 yellow on the sides. Spiracles oval, greyish-yellow, with 

 the central slit coffee-coloured, the whole lying on oval yellow 

 patch. Length 90 mm. ; horn 11 to 13 mm. long. 



Pupa. — Similar in shape to that of M . nyctiphanes ; tongue- 

 sheath free, not curved into a spiral, touching venter at about 

 middle of thorax ; the bulbous end reaches to tip of wing- 

 case ; antenna reaches to middle of wing-case ; the fore leg- 

 shorter and the mid-leg longer than the antenna ; coxal piece 

 very small and narrow. Surface shining, abdominal segments 

 well defined ; the sculpturing on segment 4 narrow flat 

 surfaces, broadening slightly laterad ; antespiracular ridges 

 on 9 to 11 in the form of three parallel ridges on each. Cre- 

 master stout, conical, rugose above and below, with a ventral 

 median ridge at extremity which is prolonged into a short, 

 highly polished, bifid shaft. Colour reddish-broAvn. Length 

 60 mm. 



Habits. — Food-plant : Sassafras Tzumu Hemsh, family 

 Laurinese (in China). Pupation in a cell underground. 

 The resting position of the moth is the same as that of 

 M. nyctiphanes. 



