
20 BRITISH MOTHS 
— 
suggested to Linnzus the names that he has given to two of the species, viz. porcellus, the pig, and Elpenor, the 
name of one of the companions of Ulysses, who was changed to a hog by Circe. (Harris, in Amer. Journ, Sc. 
and Art, v. 2, No. 36.) By our English collectors, these same insects have long been known under the name of 
Elephant Hawk-moths ; evidently from the resemblance which the front part of the body of the caterpillars bears 
to the snout of the elephant. In 1836 Mr. Duncan proposed for these insects the generic name Metopsilus, being 
at the time unaware of the step taken by the French author above mentioned. Long previously, however, 
Hiibner had formed them into the second of his five divisions of the typical Sphingidew*, under the name of 
Eumorphe ; which name having the priority I should have adopted, had it not been in use for an exotic genus 
of beetles. Hiibner has formed each of our English species into a named section ; one of which, Daphnis, has 
since been adopted by Mr. Curtis, in his British Entomology, for Sphinx Nerii ; but if such a minute division be 
adopted at all, the British Sphingide ought to be separated into nearly twenty genera, Sphinx Neri, however 
differs from the other Chceerocampez in the very slender palpi, whereas they are very broad in Elpenor. 
In addition to the retractile structure of the front part of the body of the caterpillars, we find that instead of 
having the sides of the body marked with slender oblique bars, several of the segments (generally the fourth and 
fifth) are marked with a large eye-like spot on each side. The caudal horn is short and smooth, being sometimes 
nearly obsolete. They form their cocoons of leaves on the surface of the ground. The pupa has not the tongue- 
case exserted. The perfect insects have the antenne but slightly clavate, hooked at the tip, and terminated by a 
setose bristle, and biciliated beneath in the males. The fore wings are very acute and almost hooked, in conse- 
quence of a sinus along the hind margin; the spiral tongue is of moderate length. The abdomen is never 
marked with transverse bars at the sides, but is sometimes longitudinally striped ; and the hind wings are some- 
what lobed at the anal angle. 
DESCRIPTION OF PLATE V. 
Insects.—Fig. 1, Choerocampa Nerii (the Oleander Hawk-moth). 2. The Caterpillar. 38. The Chrysalis. 
he Fig. 4. Cherocampa Celerio (the Sharp-winged Hawk-moth). 5. The Caterpillar. 6. The Chrysalis. 
“i Fig. 7. Choerocampa Elpenor (the Elephant Hawk-moth), 8. The Caterpillar. 
as Fig. 9. Chesrocampa porcellus {the small Elephant Hawk-moth). 10. The Caterpillar. 
Prants.—Fig. 11, Vinea major (the lesser Periwinkle). 
+3 Fig. 12. Epilobium hirsutum (the hairy Willow herb). 
ay Fig. 13. Galium verum (yellow Bed-straw), 
Cherocampa Nerii being but very rarely taken in this country, I have not been able to make my drawing from a British specimen. The foreign 
specimen from which it is taken is a very beautiful one from the neighbourhood of Florence ; which, however, differs in no respect from the 
individuals that have been captured in England, except in brightness of colouring, the green markings heing particularly vivid and brilliant. 
C. celerio is from a Teneriffe specimen, also in the British Museum, which differs slightly from Hiibner’s figure of a north of Europe specimen. 
I have since seen in the collection of Mr. Doubleday a true British specimen, which corresponds in every respect with the Teneriffe insect which 
I have figured, and from which I should infer that Hiibner had not figured this insect with his usual accuracy. Chorocampa Elpenor is from a 
very fresh and perfect specimen taken at Bayswater, in the possession of Miss A. Loudon; and C. Porcellus is from a specimen in the British 
Museum. The larve and pupz are all from Hiibner and Godart. H. N. H. 
* Hiibner’s four other groups are— 
St. 1.—Bombiliz, composed of Macroglossa and Sesia. 
St. 4.—Manduce, composed of Sphinx and Acherontia. 
St. 3.—Deilephile, “ Deilephila. 
St. 5.—Smerinthi, 66 Smerinthus. 
Each of these groups being divided into various named minor sections and sub-sections. 

