100 METOPSILCS TERSA. 
this group are termed in Britain, and like the ma- 
jority of the larger Sphingidae, they are extensively 
distributed, occurring in almost every quarter of the 
globe. M. tersa is a native both of North and South 
America, as well as of the West Indian Islands. It 
measures about three inches across the wings ; the 
general colour greyish olive-brown; the anterior 
wings entirely of that hue, with a few delicate 
parallel lines of a lighter colour, running from the 
base somewhat obliquely to the tip ; posterior wings 
black at the base, brown along the external margin, 
with a row of cream-coloured triangular spots be- 
tween these two colours ; fringe of the wings white. 
The head is flesh-coloured, and there is a stripe of 
the same running along each side of the thorax; 
the back of the latter clay colour, the sides yel- 
lowish-brown. 
The caterpillar (Plate VI. fig. 1) is of a delicate 
green with numerous small longitudinal spots of 
reddish brow^n ; prolegs yellow ; on each segment, 
except the second and third, there is a yellow oval 
spot, marked with black above and below, placed 
on a lighter ground ; and higher up a longitudinal 
white stripe, commencing at the fifth segment and 
running to the tail, and having a series of ocellated 
spots placed on it ; there is likewise a large ocel- 
lated spot, of a more complex description, on the 
fourth segment, in line with the others; tail red. 
The pupa is yellowish-brown. The caterpillar feeds 
on what Abbot calls wild thyme, but which is a 
species of spermacoce (*S. Aif'ssopifoHa). The author 
