104 
PHILAMPELUS VITIS. 
PLATE V. 
Sphinx vitis, Linn. Syst. Nat . ; Merian, Surin. Ins., t. 47, f. 1 ; 
Cram. Pap. Exot., t. 267, fig. C. j Abbot and Smith, Lepid. 
Gear., i. pi. 40 ; Drury, Ins., i. pi. 28, fig. 1. 
On first examining this beautiful sphinx, we are at 
some loss to determine to which of the modern 
genera of the family it should be referred. It has 
obviously some relationship to Daphnis, and the at- 
tenuated anterior segments of the caterpillar might 
lead us at first sight to suppose it to he a species of 
Metopsilus. We soon perceive, however, that these 
segments are not so suddenly narrowed, and therefore 
not so perfectly retractile as in a genuine Chenille 
cochonne, while the absence of the lateral ocellated 
marks is a still further proof of deviation from that 
genus. After fully considering its peculiarities, Dr. 
Harris, in his valuable Memoir on the American 
Sphiugidse, found it necessary to make it the type 
of a new genus, which he names Philampelus. He 
says, of this and the other insects belonging to the 
genus so designated, “ They cannot with propriety 
be included in the genus Chmrocampa of Duponchel 
or Metopsilus of Duncan, to which they approach 
the nearest. They, indeed, seem to form a charac- 
teristic and typical group peculiar to the New 
World.” Besides the species here figured, S. salel- 
litia and S. achemon belong to this group. 
