608 
INSECTA. 
THE SECOND FAMILY OF THE LEPIDOPTERA — 
The Crepuscularia, — 
Has, near the origin of the external edge of the hind wings, a stiff bristle, which passes through a hook 
on the under side of the fore-wings, maintaining them whilst in repose in a horizontal or inclined 
position ; according to Godart, however, some of the Smerinthi are nevertheless destitute of this in- 
strument, which is also found in the following family, but the Crepuscularise are distinguished by their 
antennae forming an elongated mass, either prismatic or fusiform. Their caterpillars have always sixteen 
feet ; their chrysalides are not angulated like those of the Diurnal Lepidoptera, and are mostly in- 
closed in a cocoon, or are concealed either in the earth or beneath some substance. They mostly fly 
either in the morning or evening [twilight]. This family composes the genus 
Sphinx, Linn., — 
Which has derived its name from the peculiar attitudes of the larvae, which resemble the fahled Sphinx. 
They make a humming noise during flight. I divide this genus into four sections, corresponding to the 
Fabrician genera Castnia, Sphinx, Sesia, and Zygoena. 
The first, Hesperi-sphinges, is composed of Lepidoptera which evidently seem to connect the Hes- 
periae and true Sphinges. The antennae are always simple, thickened in the middle, or towards the tip, 
which forms a pointed hook without a bundle of hairs at the end. All have a very distinct proboscis, 
and the palpi are composed of three distinct joints. In some, the terminal joint is long, slender, and 
nearly naked, as in Urania ; in others they are shorter and broader. 
Agarista, Leach, has the palpi long-, with the terminal joint nearly naked ; the antennae gradually thickened in 
the middle, and terminated by a long hook. [New Holland insects.] 
Cocytia, Boisduval, has glass-like wings ; the palpi are as in Urania, and the antennae as in Agarista. 
Coronis, Latr., has the palpi similar, suddenly terminated in a club, with a hook at the tip. [A Brazilian species.] 
Castnia, Fabr., has the antennae like those of Agarista, but the palpi are shorter, broader, and cylindric. [See 
the monographs of Dalman, Gray, and the Encyclopedie Methodique.'] 
The second section, Sphingides, has the antennae always terminated by a small brush of scales ; the 
palpi are broad or transversely compressed, very squamose, with the third joint mostly indistinct. The 
majority of the caterpillars have the body smooth, elongated, with a horn on the back, near the ex- 
tremity of the body ; and the sides oblique or longitudinally striped. They feed on leaves, and 
undergo their changes in the earth without weaving a web. Such are the species of 
Sphinx, Linn, [or the Hawk Moths], — ■ 
Properly so called, which have the antennae prismatic, simply ciliated, or striated on one side, and which 
have a distinct proboscis. They fly with great swiftness, hovering over flowers, and making a humming 
somid ; the chrysalides of some species have the tongue-case exserted like a nose, as in Sphinx Convol- 
vuli, the Unicorn Hawk Moth. 
The species are numerous, and of very large size. 
One of the largest, is the Death’s Head Moth, Sphinx 
Atropos, Linn, [belonging to the subgenus Acherontia, 
Och.], remarkable for the skull-hke patch on the back 
of the thorax, and for the squeaking kind of noise it 
emits, which has been supposed by Reaumur to be 
caused by rubbing the palpi against each other, and 
by Lorey to be owing to the rapid escape of the air from 
two ventral cavities ; the caterpillar is of a very large 
size, and feeds on potatoes, jasmine, &c. 
The larvae of other species [forming the subgenus 
Eumorpha, Hb., or Metopsilus, Duncan], have the power of thrusting out the front of the body to a great 
length, [w'hence they have obtained the name of Elephant Hawk Moths,] such as Sph. Elpenor, Porcellus, &c. 
Other Sphingides have the body terminated by a tassel of scales. Scopoli formed them into a distinct genus, 
Macroglossum. Such are the Humming-Bird Hawk-Moth {Sph. stellatarum), and the Broad and Narrow-bordered 
Bee-Moths {Sph. fuciformis, Bombyliformis, &c.), the two last of which have the wings glassy. [This group of 
Hawk Moths is remarkable for flying in the hottest sunshine.] 
Smerinthus, Latr., has the antennte serrated, and the tongue wanting. The species are sluggish in their flight, 
and the hind wings extend beyond the fore ones in repose, as in many moths. Sph. Tilice, Populi, and ocellata. 
Fig. 129. — Acherontia atropos ; reduced. 
