4 
aocturual habits comprising the other, *I say, “ generally 
nocturnal habits,” for some species, and even families, of 
moths are almost as great lovers of sunshine as butterflies 
are. 
The Hawk-moths are usually placed immediately after 
the butterflies, and at the head of the moths (I refer to 
the classification), a place which, by their large size, brilliant 
colours, and especially by their fusiform antenuse, thick¬ 
ened in the middle and tapered towards each end, seems 
to be theirs by right. 
The term Hawk moth'" is, I imagine, derived from 
their swift flight and strong pointed wings, by which they 
are enabled to suspend themselves over a flower and ex¬ 
tract the honey without settling. For this purpose they 
are furnished with a long spiral tube fitted to penetrate 
into the depths of any flowers. The scientific name of 
the family is the ** Sphingidoi" from the fancied resem¬ 
blance that the caterpillars of many hawk-moths have to 
a sphinx. The resemblance only exists while the larva is 
at rest, daring which it elevates its head, and the anterior 
segments of its body in the air, and seems, as the great 
eatomologist, Duponchel, remarks, ‘^to regard the sky.” 
in this uncomfortable (as it would seem to us) position 
these larvae will remain for hours, I shall now proceed 
to the enumeration of the Perthshire species of Sphingidoe, 
The total number of species found in Britain is only 
sixteen, and of these only half are natives of Perthshire 
(or are known as such at the present time.) 
1. The Poplar Hawk-moth {Smerinthus populi), so 
called from its food plant, is perhaps the commonest 
species of SphingidcB, and at the same time one of the 
least interesting. In the genus Smerinthus the tongue (or 
long spiral tube for sucking honey) is almost obsolete, and 
the species lazy and indolent in their habits. They are 
generally to be seen sitting on tree trunks or walls. The 
poplar hawk-moth measures about 3 inches across the 
wings, which aregrey brown, marbled with darker, and with 
a patch of red at the base of the hind wings. The cater¬ 
pillar feeds on willows and poplars, and is greenish 
yellow, with seven oblique stripes of yellow .along each 
side. I forgot to mention that most of the caterpillars of 
the hawk-moths are furnished with a more or less strong 
horn above their tails. This horn is variously shaped and 
coloured in the various species. The boro of the poplar 
hawk-moth is conical, yellow above, and reddish below. 
The chrysalis is large and rough, and though generally 
found underground, yet sometimes it may be seen above 
