464 
LEPIDOPTERA. 
Fig. 316— Daphnis nerii. 
be readily recognised in t he field. The moths are moderate to large in 
size, with an expanse of one to four inches. The colouring is uniform 
in design, but diverse and marked in individual species. The body 
and forewings are cryptically coloured in shades of brown, grey and 
dull green, which make the insect invisible when resting on bark 
or on other exposed positions. The lower wing and sometimes part of 
the base of the abdomen is brightly coloured, the resting attitude being 
such that the forewing covers the brightly coloured parts, which 
are visible only in flight. The object of the bright colouring, usually 
larva a serious pest occasionally, feeding mainly on leaves (see Agric. 
Journ. I, No. 3). 
SpHiNGiDiE .—Hawk Moths. 
Antennce fusiform, thickened towards the apex and slightly hooked. 
Forewing long and narrow, vein 5 nearer 6 than 4 or from the middle 
of the cell; hindwing vein 8 connected to the cell hy a bar at the base, 
then approximated to or anastomosing with 7, vein 1 c. absent. 
Frenulum present. Pupa, in soil, larva smooth with anal horn . 
The narrow forewings, the spindle-shaped hooked antennae, the 
usually torpedo-shaped body and the swift flight enable this family to 
