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12 BRITISH MOTHS 
— 
. ” m / a 777" 66S 
obtain them in the perfect state, generally dying during their pupation. “Perhaps,” observes Mr. Haworth, ‘ in 
a state of nature they perform their extraordinary metamorphoses deeper in the ground, and consequently in - 
moister and more equal temperature, than most other species of Lepidoptera; and if so, the cause w ak 
perishing in our breeding-cages 1s undoubtedly owing to their having in these cages too scanty ca dry a soil. | I 
have known fine specimens reared by feeding the caterpillars upon potatoes growing in pots in the ope alr, 
plunged in the earth, and the plant covered with gauze. Many instances are recorded of the insect having been 
captured on board ship, at a considerable distance from land. 

DESCRIPTION OF PLATE III. 
Insects. —Fig. 1. Sphinx Convolvuli (the convolvulus, or unicorn Hawk-moth). 2. The Caterpillar. 3. The Chrysalis. 
=e Fig. 4. Sphinx Ligustri {the privet Hawk-moth). 5. The Caterpillar. 6. The Chrysalis. 
us Fig. 7. Sphinx pinastri (the pine Hawk-moth). 8. The Caterpillar. 9. The Chrysalis. 
Piants.—Fig. 10. Convolvulus arvensis (the small bindweed). 
Be Fig. 11. Ligustrum vulgare (the common privet). 
= Fig. 12. Abies communis (the spruce-fir). 
The insects are all from the collection of the British Museum. The Caterpillars are from Hiibner. H. N. H. 
SPHINX, Linnavs. SPECTRUM, Socopoz. 
This genus in its restricted state comprises numerous species, distinguished by their elongate, conical bodies 
destitute of a tuft at the extremity, the more elongated entire wings, the extreme length of the spiral tongue, the 
long and slender antennz, hooked at the tip, and terminated by a long and slender hairy bristle. The caterpillars 
are large, and generally smooth, with oblique, lateral stripes, and a curved, smooth horn at the extremity of the 
body. The pups are distinguished by having the proboscis detached, and forming an arched appendage beneath 
the breast. The transformations are undergone in the earth. 
The perfect insects are of large size, with the abdomen generally banded with different colours. Several 
species are recorded as natives of this country, on the authority of single specimens, which were in all probability 
brought from North America,—the real habitat of the species—in the preparatory states. 

SPECIES 1.—SPHINX CONVOLVULI. THE UNICORN OR CONVOLVULUS HAWK-MOTH. 
Plate iii. fig. 1—3. 
SynonyMes.—Sphina Convolvuli, Linneus, Donovan, Brit. Ins. vii-, plates 228, 229. Haworth, Stephens, Wilkes, plates 20,21. Harris 
Aurelian, pl. 21, fig. a—d. Wood, Ind. Ent. pl. 4, f. 11. Duncan, Brit. Moths, pl. 6. 
This fine species measures from four to nearly five inches in the expansion of its fore wings, which are of a 
greyish-ashy colour, with darker clouds and with a number of slender, black, straight as well as zigzag lines 
scattered over the surface; the hind wings are paler, with four black bars, the two middle ones being more 
confluent together, and the outer one parallel with the hind margin of the w 
white interrupted with brown. 
ing. The fringe of all the wings is 

