99 
METOPSILUS TERSA. 
PLATE V. Fig. I. 
Sphinx tersa, Linn. Mant., p. 538 ; Cramer, Pap. Exot., t. 39/, 
fig. C. ; Abbot and Smith, Lepid. Gear., i. pi. 38. — Deilephila 
tersa, Drury, vol. i. pi. 28, fig. 3. 
This prettily marked insect affords a very charac- 
teristic example of that section of sphinges which 
presents a distinctive modification in the form of 
the anterior wings, a peculiarity associated with 
another in the appearance of the caterpillars, which 
are rather suddenly attenuated in front, and have the 
power of drawing these narrowed segments within 
each other. This group, to which we have given 
the subgeneric name of Metopsilus, * has the an- 
tennas hut slightly clavate, the anterior wings very 
acute at the apex, with a sinuosity or emargination 
on the hinder edge just below the tip, which gives 
them a somewhat falcate shape ; the inner margin 
likewise sinuated behind the middle. The cater- 
pillars are ornamented with eye-like spots on some 
of the anterior segments ; the anal horn in most 
cases distinct, but occasionally obsolete. We have 
several elephant hawkmoths, as the members of 
* See Nat. Lib. Ent., yoI. iv. p. 154. 
