6 PLATE CCCCLXlX. 



i 



From the remarks of Dr. Smith on this particular fubjea, it U ob- 

 vious he coufidered it only as a variety of the European kind of Sphinx 

 Convolvuli. " We cannot difcover," fays this author, " any material 

 diiVin&ion between this and the moth which feeds on plants of the 

 fame genus * in Europe, and is often feen fluttering about in towns 

 and houfes, making as much noife as a bat, or fmall bird; for both 

 which it is often taken by the vulgar. The reddilh tinge on the 

 under-wings of the American one, is the only difference we can find, 

 and is furely not fufficient to make that kind any more than a variety, 

 as Mr. Drury fuppofes it. Fabricius does not even diftinguifti it as 

 fuch. Mr. (now Dr.) Latham informs us, this variety has been found 

 in England." 



Before we offer any obfervations likely to difcountenance the per- 

 fuafion of this refpeftable writer, it will not be amifs to ftate, that it 

 appears to have been uniformly the idea of every entomologift, as 

 well as Dr. Smith, with the exception of Mr. Drury, that our infect 

 is only a variety of Sphinx Convolvuli. Mr. Drury remarks, in the 

 manufcript note above adverted to, that they are certainly different, 

 and that this difference is manifeftty difcernible. But while we rely 

 on the defcription which Linn2eus affords of the fpecies, it is perfectly 

 confifient to maintain the contrary opinion ; and it was hence depend- 

 ing on the Linnaean character, that in our defcription of Sphinx Con- 

 volvuli, we were inclined to fpeak of the prefent infeft as a variety of 

 the former, rather than as a new fpecies. In adverting to the paffage 

 in which this fuppofed variety was mentioned, it will be however per- 

 ceived, that we entertained, at that time, no inconfiderable degree of 

 diftruit as to the propriety of fuch an opinion, for it was then obferted, 

 that ** it has all the chara&eriftic marks of Sphinx Convolvuli, or we 

 Ihould hefitate to admit it as the fame fpecies." Such were the fcru- 

 ples at that time prevalent in our mind : we were unwilling to oppofe 

 the authority of Linnaeus, or we mould have then conftituted it a dif- 

 tin& fpecies. Subsequent obfervations have tended only to ftrengthen 

 the propriety of this fuggeftion, and to convince us, the Linnaan cha- 



* Feeds in America on the fwect poutoe, Co»toItu1us Batatus. 



rafter 



