398 SPHINGIDiE. 



{Rhagastis albomarginatus), and the horn sometimes covered 

 with minute tubercles. Colour green, brown or black ; dorso- 

 lateral ocelli always present, either on segment 5, or on 5 

 and 6, or on 5 to 11 ; more rarely on 3 or 4 to 12 ; usually 

 a dor so -lateral stripe and often oblique stripes. 



Pupa. — Tongue reaching tip of wing-case or just beyond 

 tip, basal part often contained in a sheath projecting from the 

 front of the head ; in Rhyncholaba acteus tongue in a free 

 sheath ; coxal piece always present. Surface usually dull and 

 smooth ; no sculpturing on segment 4 ; ante-spiracular ridges 

 not well developed. Spiracle of segment 2 often at the bottom 

 of a funnel-shaped depression. Cremaster variable, often 

 with hooks, and in many species of Theretra and in Rhyn- 

 cholaba, Rhagastis and Cechenena there is a funnel-shaped 

 depression under the base of the cremaster running axial ly 

 into segment 14. Colour variable, but never uniform black 

 or brown. 



Habits. — The food-plants belong to many families, and are 

 usually herbaceous, large trees being seldom selected. Several 

 species feed on vines and arums. Eggs laid on both sides of 

 the leaf, but usually on the underside, or on a twig or bract. 

 The larvae, rest with the head and anterior segments contracted. 

 When alarmed the anterior segments are still further contracted 

 into segment 5, which is much swollen. The colour becomes 

 darker before pupation, which takes place in a rough cocoon 

 on the surface of the ground. The moths rest with the wings 

 held horizontal, the costal margins at an angle of about 45° to 

 each other, the inner margins nearly parallel and most of the 

 abdomen exposed. They all feed at flowers, usually at dusk 

 and later, in some cases before dusk, and many species are 

 attracted by light. 



Hab. Cosmopolitan, seven Indian genera. 



Key to the Genera. 



Imagines. 

 Base of tongue exposed ; second segments 



of palpi not contiguous 2. 



Base of tongue not exposed ; second seg- 

 ments of palpi contiguous 3. 



Second segment of palpus obviously 



narrower in side-view than first, more or 



less narrowing apically ; inner surface [Jord., p. 481. 



naked Cechenena Roths. & 



Second segment of palpus not narrower than [Jord., p. 465. 



first, not narrowing towards end Rhagastis Roths. & 



Scaling at apex of first segment of palpus, 



on inner side, dense and regular 4. 



Scaling at apex of first segment of palpus, 



on inner side, not dense, irregular 6. 



