12 GENUS SPHINX. 



prepare the soil, &c., I was led to a nan-ow exami- 

 nation of their exterior in search of the cause ; and 

 perceiving some wounds in the branches, that had 

 much the appearance of being made by the entrance 

 of small shot, I cut off a branch, when I found that 

 the medulla, or pith, was destroyed, and its place 

 converted into a commodious apartment and pas- 

 sage for some insects. 1 traced it for several inches, 

 and found it occupied by a grub, or maggot ; and 

 knowing this must be the larvre of some fly or moth, 

 I detennined on securing a few of them at the 

 proper season, to see the result of their transforma- 

 tions. Hiiving obtained some in a chrysalis state, 

 I placed them under a glass, when, after some 

 weeks, one of them produced a beautiful specimen 

 of the JEgeria tipuliformis." 



A few only of the sphinges are remarkable for the 

 gayety and splendour of their colours, which render 

 the buttei-fly tribe so pleasing and interesting to 

 general observers. There is, however, to counter- 

 balance this, a peculiar grace and elegance of foim 

 throughout the whole of the sphinges, which at once 

 distinguish them from the moths. The sphinges of 

 Britain are not numerous, being, as is the case in 

 other regions of the globe, a very limited genus 

 when compared with the butterflies and moths. 



