50 
INTRODUCTION. 
point ivliicli is occasionally somewhat curved. This 
thickening of the antennsB upwards indicates affi- 
nity to the diurnal lepidoptera, but in most of their 
other properties they are more closely allied to the 
moths or nocturnal kinds. The wings are narrow 
and elongated, of a firm consistence, and never 
home perpendicularly in repose, but either parallel 
to the plain of position or slightly deflexed. Tlie 
suctorial tinnk ( maxillm ) is usually of great 
length, often equal to that of the whole body ; and 
appears, at least in some instances, to be of a more 
simple structure than among butterffies, consisting 
only of a simple semi-cylindric canal. 'When, for 
example, that of the death’s-head-moth, which is 
short and rigid, and so sharply pointed as to be 
able to pierce the skin of the hand, is cut across, 
only a single perforation of an oval shape is visible. 
The palpi embrace the base of the trunk, consist of 
tliree articulations, and are so densely invested with 
hairs and scales, that their jointed structure is not 
discernible till these are rubbed off. The eyes are 
large, globose, and prominent, composed of a great 
number of facettes. The tarsi are all divided into 
live joints; the intermediate tibiie are furnished 
with two spines, and the hinder ones -with four; 
and in the anterior pair, which are destitute of 
spines, there is a slender lobe lying along a part of 
the under side of the tibia, and attached to it by 
the upper extremitv. 
These insects constituted the genus Sphinx of 
Linnaius, and they compose the family named Cre- 
