150 BRITISH LEPIDOPTERA. 



is undoubtedly this species, and not P. lineata, which occurs in the 

 Hawaiian Islands. Trie Western Australian examples have also 

 more rounded wings. Kaye states (in litt.) that the main variation 

 of this species occurs in the width of the black submarginal band 

 of the hindwing, and the width of the brownish band between this 

 and the outer margin. This is considerable, the Australian specimens 

 having this brownish band quite broad at apex. These latter also 

 have the markings of the abdomen rather reduced, but, perhaps, not 

 much so considering their smaller size. 



Phryxus livornica and P. lineata. — Our Palaearctic Phryxus 

 livornica, Esp., has, by many authors, been considered as co-specific 

 with the Nearctic P. lineata, Fab. (commonly known as daucus, Cram.). 

 Not only are the imagines markedly different, but the larva of P. 

 lineata is very different from that of P. livornica, being the phyletically 

 older (see Weismann, Studies in Theory of Descent, pp. 216-217), but, if 

 one compares the larva and pupa of P. lineata (Abbot and Smith, 

 Nat. Hist. Ins. Georgia, pi. xxxix) with those of P. livornica 

 (Hiibner, Sphinges hi., Legit., B.C., figs. \a — c), one is convinced, as 

 both are apparently well drawn, that they belong to different species, 

 and one cannot follow Staudinger (Catalog, 3rd ed., p. 103) in 

 considering livornica, Esp., a variety of lineata, Fab. Kirby states 

 (Ent., xxviii., p. 165) that Barrett (Lep. Brit., ii., p. 46) curiously 

 notes P. lineata as a variety of P. livornica, and then, in the next 

 paragraph, treats the former as a distinct species under the name of 

 daucus. The original description of lineata reads as follows : — 



Sphinx alis virescentibus : fascia striisque albis ; posticis nigris ; fascia rubra. 

 Habitat in America. Statura prsecedentis. Caput virescens, stria laterali alba. 

 Thorax virescens, striis tribus albis duplicatis. Abdomen cinereum, albo nigroque 

 maculatum. Alae anticae integerrimse, virescentes, fascia media sti'iisque sex fasciam 

 secantibus abbreviates, albis. Margo posticus cinerascens. Alse posticse atrae, fascia 

 media lata rufa; subtus omnes cinerascentes, atomis viridibus (Fabricius, Syst. 

 Entomologiae, pp. 541-542). Larva : The mature larva is about 3ms. long and quite 

 variable. The most common form is of a yellowish -green colour with a row of 

 prominent spots along each side, each spot consisting of two curved black lines en- 

 closing a crimson patch above and a pale yellow line below, the whole being 

 connected by a pale yellow stripe edged with black. In some instances these spots 

 are disconnected, and the space between the black crescents is of an uniform cream- 

 colour. The other form of the larva is black with a yellow line along the middle of 

 the back, and a double series of yellow spots and dots along the side. Caudal 

 horn yellowish-orange toAvards the extremity and rough (Fernald). Pupa : Light 

 brown, the head-case compressed laterally and prominent ; tongue-case not apparent 

 (Clemens). Foodplants: Apple, grape, plum, currant, gooseberry, buckwheat, turnip, 

 water-melon, chickweed, Rumex obtusifolius, CEnotliera biennis. Portulaca oleracea 

 (Fernald). Distribution : North and Central America, West Indies, Pacific Islands. 



Oberthiir and other authors note (in litt.) that lineata, Fab. 

 (daucus, Cram.), from America, is a valid species. It always has six 

 white stripes on the thorax, whilst the European livornica, Esp., has 

 always only four such white stripes. 



Egglaying. — No note on the egglaying of this species in nature 

 appears to have been published. Eggs, laid in confinement, by $ moths 

 captured near Exeter, were light green, and glued to flowers of red 

 valerian which had been placed for the sustenance of the moths. 

 The egg stage lasted about three weeks and twelve young larvae 

 were obtained (Hellins, E.M.M., vii., p. 102). A $ captured at 

 Bromsgrove on May 31st, 1870, laid 15 eggs (Enock). 



Ovum. — Apparently undescribed except as above. 



