] 50 SPOTTED ELEPHANT HA'WK MOTH. 
and obscured with dusky, and having a large dark- 
coloured spot near the middle of the upper wings. 
The caterpillar varies considerably in appearance, 
according to its age. In its mature state, when 
nearly ready to be transformed into a chrysalis, it is 
black, with numerous slightly elevated wliite or 
yellowish points disposed in transverse lines placed 
close to each other, and three longitudinal rows of 
rounded spots on each side, the spots in the central 
row, which are much smaller than the others, and 
those of the upper row, being cream-coloured, and 
the lower one bright red : the head, a line along 
the back, and the legs, are of the latter colour. 
The cypress-leaved spurge C Euphorhia cyparistias ) 
is the favourite plant of this beautiful caterpillar ; 
it likewise feeds on Euphorhia emla and E. Panra- 
k’ow (sea spurge), but seems to reject several other 
kinds, although the qualities of all may be presumed 
to be nearly the same. 
This must be regarded as a rare and local insect 
in Britain. The locality that has afforded the 
largest supply of specimens is in the vicinity of 
Barnstaple, in Devonshire, where it was procured 
in some plenty by Mr. Raddon. “ That gentle- 
man,” says Mr. Curtis, “ visited occasionally the 
extensive sand-hills at Appledore and Braunton 
Burrows near Barnstaple, where Euphorhia Para- 
lias grows in great abundance; and from the size 
and beauty of the caterpillar it would be imagined 
that it might readily be found ; but in the young 
state they are not easily discoverable; and when 
