32 TUB ELEPHANT SPHINX. 



It possesses a faculty peculiar to very few in- 

 sects — it can protrude its head and three first joints 

 to a tapering point ; or entirely conceal the head, 

 and contract the first joints, by drawing them 

 apparently into the body. 



The caterpillars form a white web among the 

 leaves in August, and continue in the pupa state 

 during the winter, when it is yellow. The chrysa- 

 lis is anteriorly dull gray, and posteriorly brown, 

 with the spiracles obscure. The Sphinx emerges 

 in the following May. They are very subject to 

 attacks from the Ichneumon Fly, to which they 

 frequently fall a sacrifice. 



This Sphinx is not uncommon near London, 

 Hertfordshii-e, Surrey, Devonshire, Shropshire, 

 Cambridgeshire, Yorkshire, and Northumberland. 



It is the Deilepkila Elpenor of Ochsenheimer ; 

 and is subject to considerable variety in the depth 

 of its colours. 



