GRAPE-VINE SPHINGES. 62b 



to which I have given the name of JPhilampelus* from the 

 circumstance that the larvae or caterpillars live upon the 

 grape-vine. When young they have a long and slender tail 

 recurved over the back like that of a dog ; but this, after 

 one or two changes of the skin, disappears, and nothing 

 remains of it but a smooth, eye-like, raised spot on the top 

 of the last segment of the body. Some of these caterpillars 

 are pale green and others are brown, and the sides of their 

 body are ornamented by six cream-colored spots, of a broad 

 oval shape, in the species which produces the Satellitia of 

 Linnaeus ; narrow oval and scalloped, in that which is trans- 

 formed to the species called Achemon (Fig. 150) by Drury. 13 



Fig. 150. 



They have the power of withdrawing the head and the first 

 three segments of the body within the fourth segment, which 

 gives them a short and blunt appearance when at rest. As 

 they attain to the length of three inches or more, and are 

 thick in proportion, they consume great quantities of leaves ; 

 and the long leafless branches of the vine too often afford 

 evidence of their voracity. They also devour the leaves 

 of the common creeper (Ampelopsis quinquefolid) , which, 

 with those of our indigenous vines, were their only food till 

 the introduction and increased cultivation of foreign vines 

 afforded them an additional supply. They come to their 

 growth during the month of August, enter the earth to 

 transform, and appear in the winged or moth state the 

 following summer, in June and July. The Satellitia Hawk- 

 moth (Plate V. Fig. 2) expands from four to five inches, 



* The literal signification of this word is, Hove ike vine. 



[ 13 P. achemon is Sphinx crantor Cramer and ITubuer. — Morris,] 



