Oed. LEPIDOPTERA. Gen. SPHINX 0j ■ Li 



GENERIC CHARACTER. 



PALPI timed lack, short, obtuse, and hairy. 



TONGUE spiral. Antennce thickest in the middle, prismatic. 



ABDOMEN large and conical generally. 



Sphinx Ardenia. PL 2. 



SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION. 



Sphinx with deep olive anterior wings, surrounded by a border of buff, lilac, and chesnut colour: 

 an even band of pale buff across the middle, having a transparent spot near tbe anterior 

 margin. The thorax marked with two crescents of rosy red, two black spots encircled with the 

 same colour on the shoulders. Posterior wings deep purple; with an indenture edged with 

 lilac dots near the abdomen. 



The larva of this singularly curious Sphinx was found feeding on the plant 

 here figured, Embofhrium Sericeum, which grows plentifully near water runs 

 and swamps that receive the floods from forests. It changed to a pupa in 

 November, weaving on the ground a careless net among the decayed leaves of 

 the plant it fed on, the slender branches of which had long bent incumbent with 

 the weight of this beautiful oppressor, devouring leaf by leaf; in which state 

 our specimen remained twenty-four days, and Avas on the wing in December. 

 It is thus shown at 4; the underside at 3; the pupa at 2; and the larva at 1. 

 It inhabits lowering banks of the forests near Paramatta. The female is 

 not known. 



Obs. We have here the pleasure of presenting an insect, the singular beauty of which differs 

 in character very materially, we believe, from every species hitherto known; and we have given it 

 the specific name of Ardenia as a slender mark of respect to the lady, to whom this work is 

 dedicated. 



