Z BRITISH LEPIDOPTERA. 



anteriorly. The Sesiid pupa agrees with the Eumorphid, in that 

 some species have the anal spike sharp and pointed, whilst others 

 have it rounded or spoon-shaped at the end. The pupal structure 

 leaves little doubt that the Sesiids are a branch of the Eumorphids 

 and are not directly related to the Hemarids. The pupae of many 

 of the species have a tolerably firm structure, but that of S. 

 stellatarum is more typical in shrivelling up if it dies, whilst, on 

 dehiscence, it more usually twists and shrivels up than retains its 

 natural outline. It has a very delicate skin, connected no doubt 

 with the fact that it pupates above rather than under the ground, 

 and, perhaps, more especially, that it does not hybernate as a pupa 

 but passes a very short time in that stage." Kaye remarks (in 

 litt.) on the immensely varied characters shown by the Sesiid 

 imaginal structures, e.g., the antennae (which range from fairly long and 

 slender to somewhat short and thick, whilst sometimes they are 

 moderately clubbed and in others scarcely so), and the tufted abdomen 

 (which appears to be only of service as a character when considered 

 in conjunction with other structures, and sometimes varies sexually). 

 The hind tibiae he finds to be more bristly-scaled in the Sesiids than 

 in the Eumorphids, and states that, frequently, quite a tuft of 

 scales occurs round the base of the spurs. These latter, too, 

 appear never to be so free and conspicuous in the Sesiids as in 

 the Eumorphids. He suggests that the greater number of the 

 Sesiinae fall into three natural tribes : 



i. Wings not angnlated ; S and ? with anal and 



lateral tufts Seshdi. 



2. Wings angulated. 



a. s and 9 tufted Thyreidi. 



b. s only tufted Lophuridi. 



These tribes would not embrace all the genera hitherto included 

 in the Sessiinae. Undoubtedly further tribes will have to be erected 

 for some of the more isolated genera. 



Tribe : Sesiidi. 



This tribe is well-characterised by the widely distributed and 

 well-known Sesia stellatarum. Its structure has been already dealt 

 with in our consideration of the subfamily. The imagines are 

 remarkable for their swift flight, seeking flowers by day, into which 

 they thrust their long maxillae whilst poised on the wing. [Reference to 

 Bates' comparison with the true humming-birds (Nat. on River Amazons ', 

 pp. 182 — 183) may be made here.] The imagines are well-scaled and 

 usually have a markedly tufted abdomen. Kaye notes, however, that 

 Enyo is decidedly nocturnal in its habits, but, in spite of being some- 

 what aberrant, is still distinctly Sesiid. The tribe is widely distributed 

 throughout the whole of the Old and New Worlds, but is particularly 

 abundant in the Indian region, tropical Africa and tropical America. 



Genus: Sesia, Fabricius. 



Synonymy.— Onus: Sesia, Fab., " Sys. Ent," p. 54 s (1775) 5 "Spec. 

 Ins.," ii., p. 154 (1781); "Mant.," ii.. p. <)<> (1787 I " Ent. Byst.," iii.. 1. p. 

 380 (1793); "HI- Mag.." vi„ p. 287 (1807); Leske, " Anfangs. Nat.." p. 458 

 (177')); Cuv., "Tabl. Elem.," p. 593 [797); Leach, "Edinb. Encycl.," i\., p. 

 131 (1815); Kirby, "Ent. Mo. Mag.," i., p. 210(1865). Sphinx, Linn., "Sys. 

 Nat.," xth ed., p. 493 'i7.v s ): xiith ed., p. 803 1 7 < > 7 > : "Faun. Suec," ii., p 288 

 (1761) ; Poda, " Ins. Mus. Graec," p. 82 (1761); Scop., "Ent. Cain.," p. 1S7 

 1763); Win., " Berl. Mag.," ii., p. 182 (1766); [Schiff.,] "Schmett. Wien.," p. 43 



