THE j:gerians. 
329 
like humming-birds, Fig. loG. 
durinor the daytime, 
in the months of July 
and Aufmst. Their 
o 
caterpillars bear a 
general resemblance 
to those of the genus 
Sphinx, and, as far 
as they are known, 
seem to possess the 
same habits. 
The JEgerians (JEgeriad^) constitute a very distinct 
group among Sphinges. They are easily recognized, in the 
perfected or Avinged state, by their resemblance to bees, 
hornets, or Avasps, by their narroAV AAungs, AAdiich are mostly 
transparent, and by the tufts or brush at the end of the 
body, AA'hich they have the poAver of spreading out like a fan 
at pleasure. They fly only in the daytime, and frequently 
alio;ht to bask in the sunshine. Their habits, in the cater- 
pillar state, are entirely different from those of the other 
Sphinges ; the latter liAung exposed upon plants whose 
leaA^es they deAmur, AAdiile the caterpillars of the Algerians 
are concealed AA’ithin the stems or roots of plants, and 
deriA^e their nourishment from the Avood and pith. Hence 
they are commonly called borers, a name, hoAA^eA^er, AAdiich 
is equally applicable to the laiwje or young of many insects 
of other orders. 
The caterpillars of the ^Hgerians are AAdiitish, soft, and 
slightly doAvny. Like those of other Sphinges they haA^e 
sixteen feet, but they are destitute of a thorn or prominence 
on the last segment of the body. When they liaA’e come 
to their full size, they enclose themseh^es in 
oblong OA’al cocoons (Fig. loT), made of 
fracjments of Avood or bark cemented bv a 
gummy matter, and within these are trans¬ 
formed to chrysalids. The latter are of a shining bay color, 
42 
Fig. 157. 
