Insects. 3243 



describe it, but as I have gone through all the Sphingidae, I subjoin it also. I may 

 mention that the dark variety of this caterpillar feeds on Jasminum officinale, whereas 

 the green or common variety of the caterpillar is invariably found on Solanum tubero- 

 sum. Acherontia Atropos. — Caterpillar smooth, elongated and subcylindrical. The 

 three anterior segments are of a fine green, dark green, yellow and yellowish green ; 

 rather variable and transversely wrinkled : the ground colour of the nine posterior 

 segments varies from yellow to dark green, with seven oblique stripes on either side, 

 meeting along the middle of the back, the last of which join at the base of the horn ; 

 the oblique stripes are half blue inclining to purple, and the posterior half yellow or 

 yellowish white ; the whole of the back between the oblique stripes is spotted with 

 black or dark purple. Horn yellow, granulated, directed backwards, and with the tip 

 thereof curved forwards. Stigmata black, bordered by white. Head green or yellow- 

 ish green, with a broad black stripe on either side. Mandibles black. Thoracic legs 

 shining black, spotted with light gray. Prolegs green, tipped with brown. Abdomen 

 greenish yellow. Found during the months of August, September and October, upon 

 the common potato, (Solanum tuberosum). When young, the colours are more vivid 

 and the stripes &c. more distinctly marked. The horn is very long in proportion to 

 the general size. The whole of the body, the thoracic legs &c, are covered with small 

 whitish tubercular spots or asperities, those of the three anterior segments being much 

 longer than the rest. Head green, with a pale stripe on either side. Thoracic legs 

 pale brown and granulated ; the rest remaining as before mentioned. Dark varieties. 

 — These differ from the green ones as follows: — The anterior segments are of a pink- 

 ish white colour, with a broad black dorsal line, dilated in its middle, and with the 

 sides more or less speckled with dark brown ; the ground colour of the nine posterior 

 segments is of a yellowish brown colour, with seven oblique dusky stripes meeting 

 along the back, the last of which join at the base of the horn. The back is more or 

 less spotted and speckled with dark brown ; the whole body is covered with small whit- 

 ish tuberculous spots or asperities. The horn is of a pale yellowish brown colour. 

 Head pinkish white, and having directly over it, at the anterior part of the first seg- 

 ment, abroad transversal band of light brown. Prolegs dark brown, tipped with black. 

 Abdomen paler than the body. Found in September, 1845, near Cour sous Lausanne. 

 The last genus belonging to the Sphingidae is the genus Smeriuthus, which contains 

 five species; two of which, S. Tremulae and S. Quercus, are scarce, and unknown to 

 me in the larva state. I subjoin here the descriptions I have made of the three others. 

 Smerinthus Tiliae. — Caterpillar attenuated anteriorly. Head triangular. Horn curved. 

 Body covered with minute tuberculous spots. Ground colour pale bluish green, spec- 

 kled with minute yellowish tuberculous spots. A lateral series of seven oblique streaks 

 of a pale yellowish white colour, darker on the side next the head, and of which the 

 last terminates at the horn. Horn covered with minute, pale, tuberculous dots, with 

 the base of a fine blue above and pinkish beneath, tipped with green, and then again 

 with dark brown. Behind the horn is a patch of yellowish orange, bordered by yel- 

 low. Head triangular, spotted with small yellow spots, green, with two yellow lines 

 meeting at the top. Stigmata pale flesh-colour, surrounded by purplish brown. Tho- 

 racic legs pale flesh-colour. Prolegs of the same colour as the body, tipped with light 

 brown. Abdomen pale green. Found in July and August, on Tilia platyphylla and 

 T. microphylla. Smerinthus ocellata. — Caterpillar rather attenuated anteriorly. Head 

 triangular. Horn curved. Body covered with minute tuberculous spots. Ground co- 

 lour fine green, generally with a rather bluish tinge, speckled with pale yellowish 



