C 43 ] 



PLATE LIIL 



SPHINX TIPULIFORMIS, 

 Currant Sphinx. 



Caterpillar, Chrysalis, and Sphinx of the Natural Size. 



The Female depofits her eggs in the crevices of fuch twigs as arc 

 hollow ; and a peculiar inftinit almoft invariably directs her to the 

 ftalks of the currant trees : which are not only eafy of accefs, but 

 afford grateful nourifhment to the young brood. Immediately that the 

 Caterpillar is enlarged from the egg, it perforates the ftalk, and, hav- 

 ing entire pofTemon of the inner channel, it feeds on the foft fubftance 

 which is abundant within. Thus it is fecured by nature, with a de- 

 fence againft many depredators, to which all Caterpillars, except in- 

 ternal feeders, are expofed. 



It changes to a Chryfalis within the ftalk. 



A fhort time before the Infect burfts forth, the Chryfalis is pro- 

 truded through the outer bark, precifely in the fame manner as the 

 Chryfalis of the Sp. Apiformh (Plate 25.); and is fupported by a 

 fimilar contrivance, every fegment being ferrated, or armed, with a 

 row of very minute teeth, which firmly embrace the fubliance of the 

 ftalk, and elevate the Chryfalis in an oblique pofture; until the laft 

 efforts of the Infect completely difengages it from the cafe. 



The Sp. Tipuliformh is the only Species of the tranfparent-winged 

 Hawk-Moths, which is common near London ; and is the fmalleft In- 

 fed of this divifion of the genus : the divifion contains few individual 

 fpecies : but fuch as are generally very rare ; at leaft the broods appear 

 local in this country. The Currant Sphinx is taken in June. 



Gi PLATE 



