468 SPHINGIDiE. 



Imago. — $$. Olive - brown ; head and thorax with a greyish 

 lateral stripe, no black mesial dot on metanotum ; abdomen 

 with paired dark dorsal dots on each segment, no ochreous- 

 tawny lateral stripe, or rarely the stripe vestigial on the last 

 segments. The four discal lines of the fore wing, of which 

 two or three are generally strongly dentate, form at internal 

 margin a conspicuous patch, which is often continued costad, 

 joining the patch situated near stigma, this latter patch 

 sometimes wanting. Hind wing smoky-brown with a narrow 

 clayish-buff submarginal band ; this band is best marked in 

 individuals which have the distal part of the disc of fore wing 

 upperside buffish and the marginal border distinct, while it 

 is vestigial or absent from the more evenly coloured individuals. 

 It is peculiar that aurifera, acuta and velata each have two forms 

 differing in the same way. Underside of both wings much 

 mottled with brown scales, forming mostly short transverse 

 lines ; the brown border of fore wing widened before R 3 , 



Fig. 121. — Rhagastis velata (Walk.). 



sometimes almost extended to basal area. Second segment 

 of palpus not narrower towards base, longer than broad but not 

 so long as in aurifera, cavity of first segment distinct. External 

 row of spines of first protarsal segment simple, or doubled only 

 at base. Expanse : $ 66-70 mm., $ 74 mm. 



<$. The large scales of the clasper stand in pairs ; harpe as 

 in acuta, rather more curved. Penis-sheath (fig. 120 A) 

 symmetrical, both processes with several irregular rows of 

 small teeth at proximal edge. Tenth sternite long, sides 

 parallel, apex obtusely rounded. 



Hah. E. Himalayas (Sikkim ; Bhutan ; Assam). We 

 have bred the species in the Khasi Hills, where the larva is 

 common at an elevation of about 5,000 feet, in well-wooded 

 areas, from May to September. 



Egg. — Very pale yellowish-green. 



Larva : — 



1st instar. Pale yellow when first hatched, after feeding 

 head yellow, body green, horn black, straight, of medium 



