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CIHM/ICMH 

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ntmtiitt»mm  III    ii 


North  American  Lepidoptera. 


The 


Hawk  Moths  of  North  America 


by 


A.  Radcliffe  Grote,  A.  M. 

Vice  President  of  the  American  Association  for  the  Advancement  of  Science,  etc. 


PRICE:  ONE  DOLLAR. 


---^-^^^iV^t^^^^^ts^ 


BREMEN. 


Printed  by  Homeyer  A  Meyer. 


^^ff^JoMO'^GiOAL  Branch 

DEPARTMENT  OF  AOmcULTURE 
OTTAWA  -      -   Oana&A 


SSI 


TO 


Prof.  WILLIAM  SAUNDERS,  F.  R.  S.  C. 

*    OF  LONDON,  ONTARIO, 

Anfhor  of  nnnun'ons  and  most  raluahlc    irrifiiijfs   on  Amcricnn 

E)itoniolo(j}j,  both  pfdcliail  and  ^rirnfitiv,  Editor  of  the 

Canadian  Ento)noIo(/i.st, 


this  work  is  most  gratefully  dedicated  in  remembrance 

of  many  kindnesses  bestowed  by  him  upon  his  obliged 

and  life-long  friend  and  fellow-laborer, 

THE  AUTHOR. 


pool's  of  natural  histort/  aim  comnionhj  to  he  hasty 
schedules,  or  inventories  of  GocVs property  hy  some  clerh.  Tliey 
do  not  in  the  least  teach  the  divine  view  of  nature  hut  the 
2)0pnJar  view,  or  rather  the  popular  method  of  studying  nature, 
and  malce  haste  to  conduct  the  persevering  pupil  only  into 
that  dilemma  where  the  professors  always  dwell. 


STn 


toteau. 


i  OTTAWA    .       '''^.^'^ '-'i- njR£ 

C>ArvAi;A 


On  Collecting  and  Preserving  for  the  Cabinet. 


In  (les  Paiiillou's  Gestalt 

Flattr'  icli  nacli  ilen  letzten  Ziigen.  — 

Goethe. 


R 


lature,  like  Virgil's  sorceress,  incessantly  repeats, 
enchanting:  Duvitc,  ah  urhc  dnnmrn.  men  cnr»nna,  durifc 
Daphuim!  and  brings  us  by  many  lures  to  her  home  in 
wood  and  field.  Under  the  spell  exercised  by  the  display 
of  Butterflies  and  Moths,  we  may  behold  the  Entomologists, 
chasing  their  treasures  by  day  through  the  meadows,  in  the 
evening  waiting  for  them  by  beds  of  scented  flowers,  at 
ni'ght  watching  by  bait  and  light  the  coming  of  their  tiny 
prey.  The  study  combines  Art  and  Science  in  a  peculiarly 
seductive  manner.  Even  in  flowers  we  have  no  more 
beautiful  patterns  and  colors  and  here  these  may  be  preserved 
for  the  most  part  perfectly  and  for  a  life  time  in  a  Collection. 
Tints  which  we  do  not  find  in  Art  often  brought  together, 
are  here  harmoniously  blended,  as  the  blue  and  green  in 
the  Wandering  Hawk  Moth,  Argons  hibnisccw,  and  the  pink 
and  yellow  of  the  Eosy  Dryocampa.  The  moths  afford 
superb  instances  of  the  blending  of  neutral  tints,  unspeakably 
soft  broAvns  and  grays,  as  in  the  Smrrinthinae  and  the 
"False  Hawk  Moths",  the  species  of  the  Bombycid  genus 
Apatehdes.  These  two,  A.  aru/flica  and  A.  fonrfacta,  are 
remarkable  for  their  casual  resemblance  to  certain  un- 
ocellated  Smcrhdhinac,  no  less  than  for  the  delicacy  of 
their  shaded  neutral  colors.  It  is  owing  to  the  natural 
constitution  of  the  human  mind,  that  it  is  pleasantly  occupied 
in  observing  the  diiferent  forms,  in  solving  the  many  questions 


6 


which  the  structure  and  lives  of  these  tiny  creatures  suggest. 
In  the  case  of  the  Indo-Germanic  peoples  there  is,  to  aid 
this,  a  decided  tendency  to  the  study  of  Natural  History, 
to  investigate  the  material  constitution  of  the  world  in  Avhich 
we  live  and  of  which  we  form  a  part. 

Collecting  with  the  net  over  flowers  in  the  evening, 
when  the  Hawk  Moths  are  active,  is  a  very  alluring  pursuit. 
Verbena  beds,  Avhere  the  flowers  are  of  the  white  variety, 
against  which  the  hovering  j\Ioths  art;  more  easily  seen, 
I  have  found  very  productive.  An  intelligent  and  charming 
writer,  Mrs.  C.  H.  Fernald,  has  given  us  a  list  of  the 
cultivated  plants  attractive  to  these  insects.  I  may  be 
forgiven  for  ([uoting  her  words:  ..Most  people  love  flowers 
and  cultivate  them  for  their  beauty  and  fragi-ance,  but  to 
collectors  of  insects  some  of  them  have  a  double  charm, 
for  they  attract  some  of  the  most  beautiful  and  rare 
Lcpidopfrfd.  The  common  lilac,  Si/rii/f/a  rulffaris  and  the 
Tartarian  and  Sil)erian  Honeysuckles,  when  in  full  bloom, 
during  the  hottest  hours  of  a  bright,  sunny  day,  are  a 
perfect  paradise  for  several  of  the  Lei)idoptera,  as  Avell  as 
numerous  Hymenoptera  and  I)ii)tera.  The  gaudy  I'djnUo 
tiiruHs  sails  proudly  over  the  highly  scented  flowers,  fre(iuently 
dropping  down  to  sip  the  nectar:  and  Hcmori.^  diffiuis  and 
ihiisbo,  with  an  occasional  <fr(iri/ls,  whiz  about  the  flowers 
as  "busy  as  the  bees."  Tlien,  at  twilight,  the  larger  Sphinx 
moths,  (/(irdi/is  and  cliiniKiciiciii,  and  i-arely  /Nscifiosa.  dart 
swiilly  from  shrub  to  shrub,  and  from  flower  to  floAver, 
requiring  a  ([uick  eye  and  hand  to  capture  them,  /fcliojtliila 
alhiUiH'a,  P/usid  si m pier,  and  jn-crdfioiiis,  and  occasionally 
a  hiniac/ildfd  are  also  taken  on  these  flowers.  I  have 
captured  more  insects  o]i  Ocudthcra  LaiiHirc/ciaiut,  than  on 
any  other  plant.  A  plot  about  three  feet  square  gives  from 
fifty  to  one  hundred  fresh  flowers  about  four  inches  in 
diameter  ever}-  evening,  and  if  the  seed  pods  are  picked 
off,  they  may  be  kept  in  bloom  for  three  months."  In  addition 
to  the  Omothcra,  or  Evening  Primrose,  of  which  Mrs.  Fernald 
writes,  my  kind  friend  Mr.  L.  W.  Goodell  of  Amherst,  Mass. , 
notes  the  cultivated  varieties  of  Datura,  Mignonette,  Alyssum, 


* 


*r 


>¥ 


and  Pinks  as  being  very  attractive  to  Motlis.  On  Staton 
Island,  where  the  wild  Ddho-a  flninifniiin)/,  or  Janu'stown 
Weed,  is  common,  T  have  tak(;n  several  Hawk  ]\I()ths  on  its 
white  and  pnrple  llowers.  Also  on  different  sorts  of  Axvlcpias, 
or  Milkweeds,  the  leaves  of  which  are  eaten  by  the  larvae 
of  DniifiKft  ph'xi})})Hs  and  FjkIkh'Ics  ciiIc,  and  are  gi^nerally 
very  attractive  jilants  to  bees  and  beetles  and  buttcMflies. 

In  taking  Cloths  with  the  net,  the  poison  buttle  should 
be  kept  handy  and  the  insect  introduced  into  it  as  (piickly 
and  dextrously  as  i)ossible,  to  prevent  injury  to  the  wings 
and  especially  to  the  line  fringes  which  are  easily  abraided 
in  fluttering. 

The  acti(m  of  chlorofVn-m  l)eing  very  rapid.  T  have  used 
a  bottle,  fastened  to  the  cork  of  which  (inside)  was  a  small 
bit  of  sponge,  which  I  kept  moistened  with  this  anaesthetic. 
Into  this  bottle  I  introduced  the  insects  fr(»m  the  net, 
transferring  them  in  a  few  moments  to  the  cyanide  bottle. 
They  hardly  fluttered  and  the  fringes  were  preserved.  Some 
collectors  use  a  needle  fastened  in  a  little  Avooden  handle 
as  an  implement  for  impaling  ]\Iuths  resting  on  fences, 
trunks  of  trees,  in  the  daytime.  The  pinned  ^Moth  is  then 
quickly  introduced  into  a  small  close  box  in  which  a  chloro- 
formed sp(mge  is  fastened.  The  ])in  must  be  carefully  used 
so  as  to  transfix  the  moth  through  the  center  of  the  thorax 
and  avoid  destroying  the  thoracic  tufts.  If  this  method  is 
objected  to,  the  resting  Moth  may  be  covered  by  the  chloroform 
or  cyanide  bottle.  As  cyanide  is  a  deadly  poison,  too  much 
care  cannot  be  taken  with  it.  A  solution  of  arsenious  acid 
and  nicotine  (extract  of  tobacco)  may  be  used  to  kill  larger 
moths;  the  pin  used  for  the  specimen  being  first  dipped  in 
this  solution.  It  has  been  also  reconnnended  to  use  a 
hypodermic  syringe  to  introduce  poisons.  I  myself  have 
only  used  the  two  sorts  of  bottles,  chloroform  and  cyanide 
and  which  have  answered  the  i)urpose  sufficiently  well. 
Individual  experience  must  determine  the  best  methods. 

The  operation  of  setting  Moths  for  the  Cabinet  is  one 
requiring  great  nicety  and  care.  The  specimens  must  not 
be   allowed  to  get   too   dry,  as   then   the  wings    cannot  be 


8 


'' 


broiiglit  into  tlie  required  position  witliout  forcing  them  too 
roughly.  The  h)ng  German  pins,  made  especially  for  the 
purpose  should  be  used,  and  setting  boards  of  soft  pine 
wood  of  dittV'i'ent  sizes  must  be  kept  in  readiness.  Black 
or  silvered  i)ins  are  the  best  to  use.  In  Germany  the 
Naturalist  shops  sell  setting  boards  of  which  the  two  sides 
are  fastened  by  moveable  screws,  so  that  they  can  be 
shifted  to  suit  the  size  of  the  insects.  They  are  about 
a  foot  long,  a  convenient  length,  with  cork  beneath  for  the  pin 
to  enter.  A  well  set  Moth  should  have  the  hind  edge  of 
the  forewings  on  a  line  with  the  thorax  behind,  and  the 
liindwings  brought  up  so  as  to  leave  the  abdomen  free.  The 
wings  may  be  fastened  by  strips  of  glazed  paper  fastened 
by  pins,  and  the  wings  should  be  carefully  brought  into 
position  by  a  stout  bristle  fixed  in  a  handle  and  applied 
against  the  veins  of  the  costae,  so  as  to  avoid  making  holes 
in  the  wing  itself  during  the  operation.  In  this,  as  in  all 
pertaining  to  the  practical  side  of  the  study,  experience  will 
suggest  many  things  to  the  collector,  Avho  will  naturally 
take  pride  and  intei'est  in  having  his  specimens  look  Avell. 

The  best  months  for  hunting  the  larvae  of  the  Hawk 
Moths  are  July  and  August;  and  one  of  the  most  prolific 
spots,  a  vineyard. 

Caterpillars  may  be  prepared  for  the  Collection  in  their 
various  stages  to  illustrate  the  growth  of  the  species.  For 
this  purpose  they  must  be  first  killed  by  being  placed  in 
a  chloroform  bottle.  The  dead  caterpillar  should  then  be 
placed  between  tAvo  pieces  of  blotting  paper  and,  by  a 
gradually  encreasing  pressure  of  the  fingers,  the  contents  of 
the  body  expressed  out  of  the  anus,  so  that  at  length 
nothing  is  left  but  the  empty  skin  like  the  finger  of  a  glove. 
Care,  by  avoiding  sudden  and  unequal  pressure,  must  be  taken 
not  to  break  the  coloring  cells  of  the  skin ;  with  the  best 
of  care,  however,  green  caterpillars  lose  their  color  under 
the  operation.  The  empty  skin  is  then  to  be  fastened,  by 
the  introduction  of  a  small  tube  in  the  vent,  to  an  india 
rubber  inhalator  (such  as  can  be  had  at  any  drug  store) 
and  forcing   the   empty   skin   gently   full  of  air,  keeping  it 


9 


., 


(lisU'iidt'd  till  (Irieil  ovor  a  '-stoVH--.  A  tin  box  with  one  end 
out  makes  a  very  ^ood  iinpi'oniptn  ••stove",  which  nuist  he 
used  in  drying'  'li''  inflated  skin.  An  alcohol  Hiiiiie  held 
undei-  the,  box  (1  have  used  a  selt/er-powder  ho.x  attached 
moveahly  to  a  stand  so  that  it  could  he  removed  from  oi- 
approached  to  the  tliime)  heats  the  air  within  it  and  the 
cateipillar.  l)ein<?  introduced  through  the  open  I'lid.  must  he 
kept  inflated,  hy  the  rubber  inhiiliit(»r  until  (hied.  With 
a  common  insect  pni.  introthiced  through  the  diied  ;ind 
protrudin<;-  intestine,  the  specimen  may  he  pinned  in  the 
cabinet.  <'aterpillars  so  piepare(l  may  be  als(»  artificially 
colore(l.  lint  as  a  rule,  with  care  in  the  preparation,  which 
needs  practice,  this  is  not  necessai'y.  Pupai'  killed  by  heat 
may  be  also  pinned  (after  a  tiiorou<>li  dryin.ui  in  the 
collection. 

As  to  a  cabinet,  som  ■  collectors  prefer  one  with  draweis 
liavinf?  a  cork  lininu-  i  remember  that  1  was  a.>tonished 
when  ii  the  Camb  .  ige  Museun,  lo  fiml  that  l)r.  Hagen  us'^d 
no  linin<;-  at  all,  turcin<r  ihc  pins  into  the  soft  pine  bottom 
of  the  drawer  its(df.  J'<U(  I  think  no  lepidopterist  W(»uld 
avail  himself  of  such  a  plan.  As  it  was.  1  noticed  that 
many  (d'  the  frailer  types  of  Ztdler  had  become  broken;  the 
points  of  the  pins  blunting  or  breaking  oil  and  the  specimens 
sutfering  under  tliis  treatment.  In  (rermany  turf  and  other 
cheaper  materials  are  used  as  a  substitute  for  cork.  All 
this  may  be  left  to  the  choice  of  the  collector.  The  plan 
upon  which  I  proceeded,  was  to  make  boxes,  of  a  book 
shape,  being  a  little  longer  than  wide,  having  a  pane  of  glass 
for  the  top  and  one  for  the  bottom.  The  glass  was  fitted 
in  a  morticed  frame  and  fastened  in  position  by  three-cor- 
nered bits  of  tin  such  as  glaziers  use.  Tlie  boxes  were 
abotit  12  X  1-^  inches,  but  their  size  is  a  matter  of  taste. 
The  frame  must  be  fully  2\/l'  inches  deep  clear  of  the  glass, 
to  prevent  the  heads  of  the  pins  touching  the  same.  After 
fastening  in  the  bottom  glass.  I  arranged  small  line  cut 
corks  at  regular  intervals  in  the  box,  guiding  myself  by  a 
sheet  of  ruled  paper  beneath,  and  fixing  the  corks  by  means 
of  a  cemenr,  made  of  goldsize  and  red  lead.     Mr.  W.  T,  Davis 


Il 


10 


informed  me  that  Stratena,  a  common  cement,  answers  the 
purpose  ver}'  well.  The  intervals  between  the  corks  are 
regulated  by  the  size  of  the  specimens  to  be  placed  in  the 
box.  TVhen  the  box  is  filled,  each  specimen  carefully  pinned 
in  the  center  of  its  cork,  the  top  glass  may  be  fitted  and 
fastened  in  the  frame  and  the  edges  pasted  over  with  strips 
of  paper  to  exclude  dust  and  mites.  The  advantages  of  this 
method  of  preserving  the  collection  are,  that  both  surfaces 
of  the  specimens  can  be  viewed  without  opening  the  box ; 
that  dust  and  insect  enemies,  such  as  mites  and  Anf/ircni, 
are  guarded  against  without  the  use  of  poison.  These  boxes 
are  also  very  (dieap  and  can  be  simply  arranged  on  shelves 
like  books.  When  filled  and  the  specimens  are  to  take  their 
definitive  place  in  the  collection,  the  glass  can  be  pei-manently 
closed  and  a  list  of  the  contents  with  the  Family  name  at 
the  head  })asted  at  the  back  of  the  box.  The  objection  that 
the  specimens  cannot  be  readily  gotten  at  is  outweighed  by 
the  consideration  that  they  are  adequately  preserved.  Spe- 
cimens Avhich  are  the  subjects  of  study  can  be  kept  ad  ii/frriiii 
in  store  boxes.  So  long  as  I  kept  my  specimens  in  such 
glass  boxes,  I  never  lost  a  single  one  from  museum  pests. 
If  an  infected  example  was  by  any  accident  introduced,  the 
damage  Avas  always  confined  to  the  infected  specimen.  The 
Anthrniit!<  larva  would  fall  and,  owing  to  its  inability  to 
crawl  on  glass,  would  perish  before  reaching  a  second  spe- 
cimen. The  French  Entomologist,  the  late  M-  Guenee,  used 
to  keep  his  types  in  smaller  glass  boxes  of  a  similar  con- 
struction for  their  better  preservation,  and  I  had  the  oppor- 
tunity of  seeing  them  at  his  house  in  Chateaudun,  Each 
specimen  should  have  a  locality  label  attached  to  the  pin 
and  the  bottom  specimen  cf  a  series  should  bear  the  correct 
Latin  name  and  the  Authority ;  written  labels  are,  as  a 
rule,  better,  being  more  evidently  authentic,  than  printed 
ones.  The  collector  can  pass  many  happy  hours  v/ith  his 
specimens,  microscoi)e  and  notes,  and  happy  hours  are  always 
welcome  in  this  life. 

Collecting   at  Night  has   the    drawback    that  one  never 
knows  when    to  stop   and  go  himie   to  bed.    seduced   by  tlie 


! 


I 


9 


t 


11 


mysterious  silences  and  shadowy  vistas  in  the  woods.     Even 
when   the   niotlis    will  n(j  longer   come   to  bait,   one  lins^ers, 
waiting  for  some  revelation.     The  moon  has  transformed  the 
prospect  and  in  its  weird  light  an  uneasy    spirit  seizes  one 
to  adventure  farther  yet.     Beyond  that   tree,  half  in  gloom 
and  half  clothed  in   gauzy  light,    some    forbidden  i)rocession 
moves  and   we   have    forgotten   our  entomological   (luest    in 
remembering  nursery  tales  and  catch  ourselves  hoping  to  meet 
the  Old  World  Fairies,  as  if  they,  too.  had  emigrated,  under 
the  pressure  of  these  bad  times  of  incredulity  perhaps.     But 
oftenest  I   turn    the   shadows    into   Indians,   and    when    the 
Whip-i)oor-will  is  suddenly  silent.   I  believe  they  are  coming 
at  length,  with  King  Phillip  leading   the  last    hope  of  these 
ghosts  who  rebel  at  fate  in  their  red  graves  and  at  the  order 
of  things,  the  white  man  with  his  physical  ritle  and  intellec- 
tual cannon  of  Evolution  among  othei-.     And  then  my  favorite 
Indian    of  them   all,  Wannalancet,  warns    me  again  in  time 
and  I  rout  all  these  spectres,  res(dving  them  back  into  their 
true  shape  with  the  heartless  magic  of  reason.     But  I  have 
often  been  out  all  night  in  the  woods,  and  slept,  too,  in  my 
blanket  by  a  little  tire,  as  good  an  Indian   as  any  of  them. 
As    such  time   I  was  not  (X)n(;erned  chietly  about   moths.     I 
was  curious  to   find  out   v.hat  happened  and  how  the  world 
got    along    in    the    dark.      It    seemed    on    the    whole    very 
Avell  and  without  any  necessity   for  a  doctor.     In   the  dead 
of  the  dark,  the  pale  C^ueen  of  the  Night  ^lr//V^s•  Lmm)  swept 
by  me,  with  the  green  moon-light  reflected  from   her  wings. 
A    strange    life   these    insects   lead   and    one  feels  like 
asking  the  winged  butterfly  if  it  has  any  recollection  of  the 
time  when  it  crawled  about  as  a  worm,  or  clung  tenaciiuisly 
to  a  leaf  or  branch,  the  very  opposite  of  this  final  fantastic 
life   in  the   ether.     And,    again,    if  it   remembers    the    days 
whicli  it  passed  cramped  together  in  its  chrysalis : 

Turi)i  clausus  in  area,  contractum 

genibus  tangas  caput  .... 
awaiting,  nuimmy-like,  Avith  iiatience,  its  day  of  deliverance. 
The  early  Dawn   is  a   profitable   time   for   the  collector 
of  Lepidoptera,  who  may   then  surprise   the  moths  on  their 


* 


12 


first  resting  i)laces  after  the  fatigues  of  the  night.  On  Staten 
Ishnid  in.v  early  lising  was  rewarded  by  many  cai)tures  at 
the  hour  when  the  Cat  J3ird  sings  and  betrays,  to  none  but 
chosen  ears,  lier  relationship  to  the  many-tuned  ]\Iocking 
Bird  of  the  South.  Later  in  the  day  she  utters  but  the 
peevish  cry  which  lias  suggested  the  conunon  name.  On  one 
such  occasion  I  discov(n-ed.  resting  on  a  wild  vine,  which 
grew  on  the  South  Beach  near  the  sand  and  tlie  waters  of 
the  Bay,  a  pair  of  of  the  (xreat  (jreen  vine  Hawk,  P/iilaui- 
j)chis  pdHt/ofHs.  One,  I  took,  but  the  other  escaped  me, 
fiying  directly  over  the  Bay  and  out  to  sea.  So  far  as  X 
could  watch  its  arrowy  Might,  over  the  smooth  expanse  of 
ocean,  it  kept  its  course  towards  the  Atlantic,  cleaving  the 
saffron  colored  air,  now  turning  golden  under  the  rays  of  the 
rising  sun.  These  are  tinier  f/xihtssiplii/df  than  the  Sea 
Swallows.  But  the  sea  gathers  in  all  such  wanderers,  with 
othei-,  larger  prey.  They  go  gaily  for  a  time  but  the  wave 
beneath  is  endless  and  receives  them  at  last.  However,  chan- 
nels, rivers  and  bays  are  safely  crossed  by  our  Butterflies 
and  Moths.  Farther  u])  towards  the  hills,  on  the  rocky 
bed  of  a  brooklet,  I  found  si)ecimens  of  that  moth-like  butter- 
fly F(')iis('r((  Tdnpi'miiis,  abroad  early  but  yet  sleepy,  still 
carrying  into  the  New  World  the  memory  of  the  rapacious 
Roman  of  the  Old,  no  doul»t  with  miniature  sins  of  its  own 
to  answer  for.  My  specimens  from  the  j\Iiddle  States  led 
me  afterwards  to  unite  J'orscin/a  of  S('U(hler  as  not  different 
and  a  certain  odd  impression,  that  we  had  to  do  with  a 
mas(iuerading  moth,  to  study  its  structure  and  make  the 
new  genus  for  it  and  take  it  out  of  the  (;omi)any  among 
which  Btjisduval  had  scientifically  classed  it.  Thus  certain 
hours  and  places,  lanes,  along  which  the  green  tiger-beetle 
flew  up  ever  and  anon  before  my  boy's  feet,  marshalling  the 
way  that  I  should  go,  come  back  to  me  again  out  of 
the  years  of  my  early  studies,  intoxicating  my  memory. 
Poe  says  that  j(ty  is  not  gathered  twice  in  a  life,  as 
the  roses  of  Paestum  twice  in  a  year.  But  I  gathered 
tlien  so  much  that  it  lasts  until  now,  when  world-griefs 
hold  me  fast. 


II 


I' 


"» 


'f 


13 


In  tlie  Hawk  Moths  the  species  are  all  usually  readily  se- 
parable. I  have  shown  in  the  Lepidoptera  the  existence  of 
Frofioirra,  that  is  of  o-eneric  groni)S  of  forms  which  are 
nearer  related  to  each  other  than  is  usually  the  case ;  which 
are.  perhaps,  in  some  stages  of  growth  undistinguishable. 
Such  genera  are  HotuJciica,  Datdua,  Niulata,  etc.  We  may 
conclude  that  these  species  are  of  recent  separation.  In  the 
Hawk  Moths  such  instances  may  be  offered  perhajts  by  the 
typical  group  of  H('iii<(ris  aud  again  b.y  fj/i/o.  The  necess- 
ary studies  on  this  i)oint  are,  however,  wanting.  We  may 
regard  theoretically  all  species  as  only  i-elatively  stable; 
practically  we  have  to  iind  out  the  cycle  of  reproduction 
and  be  guided  by  these  results  in  our  nomenclature. 

Butterflies  and  Moths  can  be  collected  every  where  in 
the  habitable  globe.  Even  the  Arctic  regions  are  not  with- 
out their  species,  while  it  seems  likely  that  certain  Moths 
still  show  themselves  in  the  farthest  North  when  the  Butter- 
flies have  ceased  to  fly.  With  a  change  of  Continent  we 
have  also  a  change  in  the  kinds  of  insects.  As  we  approach 
the  Tropics,  Butterflies  und  Moths  become  more  plentiful  in 
kinds.  But,  even  in  the  same  degree  of  latitude,  there  is 
a  difference  in  the  numbers  of  the  individual  species  to  be 
observed  in  different  <iuarters  of  the  globe.  Thus  it  has 
always  seemed  to  me  that  Butterflies  und  Moths  were  more 
plentiful  in  America  than  in  Europe.  And,  as  a  whole,  I 
think  the  American  Lepidoptera  are  gayer,  nu)re  beautiful 
and  certainly  more  numerous  in  species.  In  this  connection 
I  remember  what  Lin!.aeus  wrote  about  American  plants: 
Nescio  quae  fato  facies  laeta  glabra  plantis  Americanis  ! 

AMiile  I  am  writing  this  in  my  European  exile,  I  hear 
a  fluttering  at  my  window  and  I  see  that  a  specimen  of  the 
"Kleine  Fuchs",  as  the  (lermans  call  Voncssa  rrficnc,  has 
strayed  into  my  room  and  is  beating  against  the  window 
pane.  The  sight  of  this  species  recalls  to  me  the  fact  that 
I  am  far  from  home.  I  have  just  interrupted  my  writing 
to  open  the  window  and  let  it  out  and  I  noticed,  as 
I   did   so,   that  my  neighbor,  the  Poet,  was  in  the  garden 


14 


gathering    inspiration  from   the  Koses.     He   repeated   to  me 
his  verses : 

Die  Rosen  gelieii  auf 

In  (lieser  Sonne, 
Ancli  (In  gehat  auf.  niein  Kos', 

In  Lebenswoune ! 
Entbliittere  nicht  ssu  friih, 

Halt'  'was  zuriick, 
Die  Zeit  die  geht  zn  schnell, 
Zu  schnell  das  Giiick! 
l*oor  feUow !     Witli  a  few  gray   liairs  already  visible  under 
his  cap,  he  sings  of  Youth  and  Love !     1  have  another  neigh- 
l)or  here,  the  Musician,  and  we  live  (piite  happily,  respecting 
each  other's    foibles   and   having    a  large  bond   of  sympathy 
in  common,  as   might   be  expected   from  a  Poet,  a  Musician 
and  a  Naturalist.     I  shall    read  this  chapter   to  them,  if  no 
more  than  from  a  system  of  revenge  for  having  myself  been 
obliged  to  listen  to    a  poem   and    a    song    which  they  have 
recently  produced. 


Bremen,  July  li).  IHKd. 


A.  n.  G. 


ml. 


15 


The  Species  of  North  American  Hawk  Moths. 


1  he  Authors  who  liave  written  extendedly  upon  the 
Nortli  American  Hawk  Moths,  or  Spliiufiidtic,  are  Harris 
(1839),  Walker  flSSG),  Clemens  (1859),  (4rote  und  Robinson 
(1865),  Boisduval  (1874),  Butler  (1876).  (^rote  il877j  and 
Fernald  (1886).  Of  these  Walker,  Boisduval  and  Butler 
have  described  our  species  in  connection  with  those  from 
other  parts  of  the  world.  Since  1865  groups  (sub-families 
or  tribes)  have  been  recognised,  although  these  were  more 
or  less  distinctly  indicated  and  in  i)art  named  by  oldei- 
Authors,  in  particular  by  Hiibner.  Unidentified  descriptions 
are  discussed  by  me  in  Papilio,  2,  170. 

In  the  present  Avork*)  I  have  gone  over  my  notes  and 
earlier  papers  on  the  family,  maintaining  my  'se(|uence  of 
the  genera,  which  had  been  in  the  main  i-ecognised  by 
Butler.  My  manuscript  was  intended  as  a  chapter  of  an 
extended  work  on  North  American  Moths,  which  awaited  a 
publisher,  when  the  appearance  of  Professor  Fernald's  pam- 
phlet upon  the  "Sphingidae  of  New  England",  induced  me 
first  to  send  my  list  of  the  species  to  the  "Canadian  Ento- 
mologist" for  publication  and  then  to  revise  the  descriptional 

*)  1  refer  the  student  to  my  inoni»i>;rai)li  of  the  Sphiii^iihic  of  Cuha 
published  by  the  Eutomok)j>-ii'aI  Society  of  Phihxdelitiiin,  Au.^^lst,  ISfin. 
Extra  copies  of  this  (with  the  Plates  colored  and  uiy  family  crest  on  the 
title  pajt^e)  are  now  very  rare.  This  paper,  written  in  my  twenty  third 
year,  was  fcdlowed  by  a  Synonymical  Cataloo-ue  of  North  American  Spliin- 
gidae,  including  Mexican  and  West  Indian  species  and  a  Plate,  l)y  my- 
self and  Mr.  (".  T.  Robinson,  in  which  the  synonymy  of  our  species  (whiidi 
liad  been  mainly  taken  by  Clemens  from  the  British  Museum  List?)  was 
•uiginally  investigated.  Also  to  i)apers  in  the  Lyceum  Annals.  New  York: 
and,  later,  in  the  Bulletin  of  the  Bulfalo  Society  of  Natural  Sciences. 


^ 


16 


part  of  my  work  by  the  light  of  Professor  Fernahl's  researches, 
which  were  so  extremely  valuable  from  the  new  charac^ters 
used  and  which  often  vindicated  my  pi'evious  generic  sepa- 
rations. So  completed,  the  work  is  here  ottered  to  the  student. 
Tt  eml)ra(^es  a  few  forms  not  occurring  in  New  England  and, 
although  not  so  full  in  its  account  of  the  species  and  groups, 
may  not  be  without  sufficient  interest  as  to  warrant  its 
issue  as  a  work  of  reference. 

The  Splii)>(/i(hir  are  a  highly  organized  and  specialized 
assend)lage  of  Moths  or  Night  Butterflies,  having  smooth, 
hairless  larvae  and  seem  to  me  an  outgrowth  of  a  spinose 
or  bristly  haired  larval  grouii,  the  posterier  spine  or  caudal 
horn  being  developped  ])r(d)ably  from  one  or  more  spines  or 
bristles,  the  base  of  which  has  been  prolonged  and  stitfened 
by  deposits  of  chitiue.  in  form  and  structuie  1  believe  they 
are  neai'est  related  to  the  ('rrafocaiiijiindr  a  subfamily  of 
BomhjicKhic,  and  separated  from  allied  Haturnian  genera 
(such  as  Hrnnlt'ttr(i)  by  myself  and  Mr.  Kobinson  in  18()(). 
The  SnicrinfliiiKic  are  probably  descendants  of  thecddest  forms 
of  the  Sj)JiiiHii(l((t'.  On  one  side  they  may  have  given  off 
the  higher  series,  (^liocnK'tinipiiHic,  Mdfroi/IossiiHic,  on  the 
other  to  the  lower,  SjiliitniiiKtc,  Arlicnntfiiiar.  The  anal  liorn 
is  a  simi)le  thin  black  spinule  in  Dnjontnipa  riihicHudu,  the 
lowest  foi'iu  of  ('ff(ih)C(n>ij)iii(i(\  stouter  and  more  developped 
in  th'^  higher  Anisofa  s/ifpiui,  and  becoming,  with  the  entire 
armature,  complex  and  well  developped  in  the  higher  genera 
of  the  subfamily  such  as  Cithcfonia,  Sphiiuiianiijxt,  Kavlcs. 
The  bristles  are  gradually  lost  as  the  caudal  horn  became 
variedly  formed.  The  pupation  is  similar,  beneath  the  sur- 
face, without  cocoon,  an  unusual  one  in  the  Ihni/lii/rcs  or 
Spinners.  Very  interesting  is  the  discarding  of  the  larval 
horn  in  the  later  stages  in  certain  genera  of  Hawk  Moths 
and  the  substitution  therefore  of  a  raised  ocelloid  spot.  That 
it  should  occui;  in  two  grape-feeding  genera  Thi/rc/is  and 
J*liiIfi,ii))('J/(s,  warrants  me  in  associating  the  two  gi'oups  in 
which  it  happens.  The  i)oint  of  my  arrangement  in  fact 
lies  in  considering  the  (liocronniijiii/ar  as  next  to  the  Ma- 
cnuilossitxtc  and  following  them  by  the  Siitfrin/hinac,  to  which 


17 


I  give  a  central  position.  I  find  among  tlie  North  American 
genera  evidence  from  which  I  follow  this  latter  group  with 
the  SphimjhKU-,  terminating  the  family  with  the  Avhcrontinne, 
a  tribe  not  found  in  the  New  World.  It  will  be  seen  that 
I  do  not  agree  with  my  friend  Butler  that  the  Cnsi<inae  are 
at  all  nearly  related  to  the  present  group.  With  the  Hepi- 
aJiiKw  (from  which  I  sei)arate  them  Avhile  Packaid  keeps 
the  two  together)  I  believe  the  Goat  Moths  to  be  very  low 
liomhi/crs  and  Butler  himself  points  out  antennal  features 
which  warrant  this  view  of  their  structure.  I  should  not 
consider  the  resemblance  between  my  genera  Frirmoxi/sfKs 
and  Jj'pisps'ia  as  being  more  than  casual. 

When  coal  was  being  formed,  there  were  probably  already 
differentiated  the  progenitors  of  modern  Butterflies  und  Moths, 
nocturnal  creatures,  obscurely  colored  and  banded,  perhaps 
with  ariuatic  larvae  and  active  pupal  state,  living  in  those 
literally  darker  days  of  the  world's  past.  The  gayer  tints 
came  in  their  endless  diversity  with  the  daylight  and  the 
flowers,  probably  differentiating  comparatively  rapidly.  From 
the  Moths,  the  Day  Butterflies  proceeded,  under  certain  con- 
ditions and  in  certain  localities.  So  far  we  may  be  safe 
with  our  imaginative  science;  but,  when  we  come  into  the 
region  of  exact  details,  we  are  at  fault,  the  story  of  all  this 
development  can  only  be  guessed  at,  traced  by  the  steps 
which  have  been  impressed  on  the  structure  and  ornamen- 
tation of  the  larvae  and  perfect  insects.  Probably  whole 
families  have  become  extinct;  in  the  North  American  FnJpo- 
Jiesperidne  are  the  few  survivors  of  such  an  extinct  assem- 
blage, lying  between  Castnia  and  the  lowest  Butterflies.  With 
the  Lepidopfcra,  as  with  all  life,  there  has  been  the  same 
remoulding  force  at  work,  but  these  frail  creatures  seem 
to  have  escaped,  by  their  very  lightness,  some  of  the  grinding 
processes  of  time  and  circumstance.  According  to  Scudder, 
a  specimen  belonging  to  the  Sphiiiuidac  has  been  found  in 
amber :  I  have  seen  no  mention  of  other  fossil  remains  of 
this  group.  This  group  of  Moths  must  have  been  influenced 
by  flowers  in  their  developuient  to  a  large  extent.  Tiie  dis- 
tribution of  Butterflies  nnd  Moths  is  assisted  by  wind  currents 

3 


18 


and  rivers,  by  valleys  and  by  plains  sheltered  by  trees.  It 
is  impeded  by  mountains,  deserts  and  the  ocean.  We  have, 
in  North  America,  essentially  one  and  the  same  general 
Fauna,  until  we  reach  the  Tropical  Insular  Fauna  already 
colonized  in  South  Florida,  and,  in  the  west,  the  Tropical 
Continental  Fauna  which  stretches  upward  from  Mexico  into 
Texas  and  the  South  West  Territories,  while,  on  the  high 
lands  of  Mexico,  it  is  probable  that  members  of  our  Tempe- 
erate  Fauna  drift  down.  Yet  the  Rocky  Mountains,  the 
back-bone  of  our  continent,  has  influenced  a  West  Coast 
fauna  which,  in  several  cases,  has  preserved  more  features 
of  the  former  Arctic  fauna  from  which  the  European  is  also 
descended.  There  is  a  constant  iiux  of  species  from  South 
to  North  during  the  Summer  of  the  year  and  in  this  way 
we  have  received  many  tropical  visitors  whose  foothold  in 
our  colder  climate  is  more  or  less  precarious  and  uncertain. 
The  question  of  wintering  comes  up,  which  these  summer 
insects  are  not  accustomed  to  discuss  and  cannot  practically 
solve.  Hence  the  Cotton  Moth  (Alofia  argilJncen),  notwith- 
standing all  its  ravages,  does  not  hibernate  successfully  over 
most  of  its  territory  :  the  line  of  its  successful  hibernation 
not  having  been  ascertained  as  yet  and  this  point  in  its 
Natural  History,  so  necessary  for  the  Practical  Entomologists 
to  knew,  is  neglected  in  the  Eeports  I  have  yet  seen.  The 
larvae  of  the  Sphinriidac  have  not  yet  received  a  comparative 
study,  although  most  of  them  are  known;  the  descriptions 
should  be  drawn  up  commencing  with  the  thoracic  segments 
1—3;  then  abdominal  4 — 12;  the  head  should  be  described 
by  itself;  mere  descriptions,  however  full,  without  comparisons 
are  tiresome  and  hard  to  undeistand. 

At  mid-day  the  Bee  Hawks,  HenKiris,  may  be  taken  on 
flowers  as  well  as  probably  all  the  Macroglossians  with  entire 
wings  such  as  Lcpiscsia.  Those  with  angulated  wings, 
Amphion  and  Tlnjreus,  also  in  the  dusk  of  evening.  I  have 
taken  also  the  higher  genera  of  the  following  tribe,  Deilcjthiln, 
FhilamjH'his  in  the  day,  but  the  Snu'rinfhini  and  Sji/ii)i(/i)ii 
are  crepuscular  and  nocturnal  in  their  habit,  so  far  as  I 
know  without  exception.     There  is  then  a  correlation  between 


19 


habit  and  structure  and  tlie  liij^lier,  cocoon-making  forms,  have 
a  tendency  to  overstep  the  usual  behavior  ot  tlie  Hctrrocera 
and  become  day-tliers.  Few  occupations  are  so  attractive 
to  the  collector  of  Lepidoptera  as  the  study  of  Hawk  Moths, 
from  the  size  and  beauty  of  the  specimens.  Comi)arative 
studies  are  now  needed;  lenothy  and  detailed  descriptions 
of  the  different  stages  are  scattered  by  various  hands  in  our 
literature,  but  they  are  undigested  and  to  a  certain  extent 
unused,  if  not  in  themselves  useless. 

As  compared  with  the  Hawk  Moths  of  other  Continents, 
the  North  American  species  suggest  several  points  of  interest. 
And  first,  the  ancestry  and  origin  of  the  group  may  not  un- 
likely be  determined  in  our  fauna,  as  I  have  pointed  put, 
by  the  study  of  such  oldfashioned  Moths  as  are  our  Dryocani- 
pians.  The  somewhat  i-emarkable  larva  of  AtrcHs  plc})<'iHs, 
found  by  me  on  Staten  Island  on  the  common  Lilac,  a 
cultivated  shrub,  first  led  me  to  a  suggestion  of  this  origin 
taken  in  connection  with  the  larvae  of  Dri/ocawpa,  Anisota, 
of  which  T  found  thi-ee  species  on  oak,  and  of  Fades,  which 
I  found  on  horse-chestnut.  Already  in  1865,  I  venture 
(Sphingidae  of  Cuba,  p.  o)  to  make  some  generalizations  on 
this  head  and  subsequent  studies  have  only  confirmed  my 
belief  that  in  North  America  are  survivals  of  older  groups 
of  Lepidoptera  to  be  found,  which  will  throw  light  upon  the 
genealogy  of  the  present  families.  I  draw  attention  on  that 
occasion  to  the  larva  of  Cerahmia,  and  the  late  Benj.  D. 
Walsh,  who  wrote  me  some  interesting  letters  at  a  later  date, 
has  made  some  valuable  remarks  on  the  structure  of  the 
larva  of  Sp]iin(jicampa.  although  his  breeding  experiments  on 
this  species,  hicolor,  were  defectively  conducted  as,  years 
ago,  I  fully  explained.  Later  writers  often  overlook  papers 
issued  some  years  back,  a  piece    of  inexcusable  inattention. 

When  we  study  the  general  distribution,  it  is  seen  that 
the  higher  groups  are  rather  fuller  and  better  represented 
in  the  Old  World;  while  the  gray,  moth-like  Sphiuijinae 
maintain  in  the  Ncav  World  a  larger  number  of  forms.-  As 
compared  with  the  Asiatic,  our  representation  of  the  family 
is  more  sombre-hued.  owing  to  tlie  absence  of  a  number  of 


^ 


20 


brilliantly  colored  Cliorrorainjiiiiac  inhabiting  tli63  Himalayan 
region.  The  Cliorrommpindc  are,  also,  the  swiftest  tliers  and 
widest  wanderers,  with  their  [jointed  bodies  and  beautifully 
curved,  sharply  outlined  wings.  As  Europe  is  visited  by  the 
celebrated  Oleander  Hawk  and  Dri/rpliihi  crlvrio,  which  come 
from  Africa,  so  we  receive  from  the  West  Indies  the  visits 
of  the  Blue  and  Green  Hawk,  Anjeux,  and  the  Wandering 
Bee  Hawks,  AcJhpos,  those  '-JMother  Cary's  Chickens"  among 
the  i\Ioths.  In  North  America  the  Smvrinthhae  are  repre- 
sented by  several  beautiful  species  belonging  to  the  more 
typical,  ocellated  group;  both  CaJasifniho/Hs  and  I'aotiim  are 
exceedingly  richly  colored  and  here  the  advantage  is  with 
the  American,  when  conipar(;d  witli  the  foreign  species  be- 
longing to  this  northern  group.  As  a  survivor  of  a  former 
Arctic  fauna,  we  have,  in  California,  a  Smcrinthnu  related 
to  the  European  (nrlJafiis.  But  the  less  typical  genera  ot 
the  group,  with  unocellated  secondaries,  are  feebly  represented 
with  us;  of  our  two  genera  and  species  Cn's.soi/id  Jui/Jdndis 
is  the  only  peculiar  American  form.  In  the  Sphiitfiii/dc  the 
series  of  genera  are  more  peculiarly  American;  tlie  number 
of  gray  and  blackish  speci^is  recalling  the  Noctnidae  in  ap- 
pearance is  noticeable.  In  Europe,  the  numerous  species 
of  Bcilcphila  are  the  remarkable  features  of  the  fauna;  we 
have  only  two,  both  borrowed  from  thence,  survivors  of  an 
extinct  boreal  representation  of  the  family. 

In  the  present  work  I  mention  the  species  inhabiting 
the  Middle  States,  having  in  particular  the  State  of  New 
York  under  consideration,  wdiere  most  of  my  studies  (either 
at  Buffalo  or  the  country  about  the  CUty  of  New  York)  were 
conducted.  As  to  the  Florida  Colony  of  tropical  species, 
or  the  West  Coast  fauna  of  which  I  know  but  little,  an 
account  is  given  in  other  papers,  the  species  being  enume- 
rated in  my  list  above  alluded  to.  My  only  synonym  in 
tliis  Family  (and  it  might  be  well  if  my  critics  could  show 
so  clean  a  record)  is  Lepisesia  vicforine  from  California,  which 
is  said  to  be  Boisduval's  Pferogon  Clarhiae,  a  species  I  do 
not  know.  But  my  description  was  excusable  since  I  was 
led  to  expect  a  species  with  angulated  wings  and  resembling 


21 


Abbot's  figure  of  P.  (iaurac  in  Boisdiivars  insect,  certainly 
not  a  Lcpiscsia,  an  insect  reseniblint?  our  Eastern  L.  flnro- 
f((Kri(ifii.  y\y  type  in  Cambridge  Museum  must  be  examined 
and  compared  at  the  first  opportunity.  In  the  meantime 
I  have  here  brought  my  work  on  this  family  to  a  final 
conclusion,  having  gone  again  over  the  literature  and  ex- 
pressed my  definite  opinion  as  to  the  structure,  generic  cate- 
gories, synonymy  and  nomenclature  of  the  species  discussed. 


22 


■ 


Classification. 


VK 


Urdi'i  liC'pldoptorai.     Butterflies  ami  3Iotlis. 

S<'al.V-winge(l  Insects  liiiving  the  maxillae  or  inoutli  parts 
soldered  together  so  as  to  form  a  tube,  through  which  tiuid 
food  is  sucked  in  by  exhaustion;  this  spiral  tongue  is  rolled 
up  between  the  palpi.  Wings  four,  in  some  females  rudi- 
mentary; venation  simple,  consisting  of  two  central  veins 
and  their  Uauches,  with  a  dorsal  vein  or  veins  belonging  in 
reality  to  th(>  median  series:  a  median  cell:  no  true  cross- 
veins  :  the  wings  with  f'  inges,  wide  and  usually  large  in 
proportion  to  the  tody,  furnished  sometimes  with  folds  and 
pouches:  the  scales  laid  shingle-like,  overlapping:  the  presence 
of  perfumed  scales  (Duftschuppen)  has  been  discovered  by 
Fritz  ^I filler  in  certain  males.  Body  divided  into  three  parts, 
head,  thorax  and  abdomen ;  tegument  scaled  or  haired,  rather 
soft;  legs  ]<mg  and  slender,  often  with  tufts;  the  tibiae 
often  spinose,  clawed,  furnished  with  a  foliate  epiphysis  or 
swollen  and  shoitened.  Metamorphosis  complete ;  pnpa  co- 
vered with  an  unyielding  crust  preventing  all  movement  of 
appendages,   with  or   without  cocoon  or  silken  attachments. 


Series!.     Rliopulocera.     Day  Butterflies,  Butterflies. 

This  diurnal  series  need  not  detain  us  here  and  I  would 
merely  refer  to  my  "Classification",  in  which  I  show  the 
presence  in  North  Ameiica  of  older  types.  Such  an  older 
type,  synthetic  as  embracing  characters  of  both  series,  is 
the  Taleohi'spcridac  m.,  a  Family  regarded  by  me  as  of 
equal  value  to  the  Hcspcridac  or  FapUionidnc.  Under  the 
name  Castnioidcs,  the  type  is  shown  by  Prof.  Riley  to  be 
a  Butterfly;  when  I  first  examined  it,  the  spinose  legs  led 
me  to  regard  it  as  a  Castniid  after  Walker.    I  believe  to 


■ 


2B 


have  (lis('()V('i'<Ml  a  similar  case  in  the  iioinlucid  (^)iiiiilri)iti 
lUdzrmti.  I  (k'scrilxMl  this  Moth  in  I'iipilio  1,  175,  ('((inpariii)^ 
it  with  <'itlic>-(»)i(i  and  (ilnrcria.  I  only  know  the  tV'niaU'; 
when  the  male  ;in<l  larva  are  known,  my  classiHration  of 
the  moth  amoiij;  my  ('rrafocKnipiinir,  will  he  tested.  But 
the  moth  has  pectinate  antennae  which  serm  to  ditl'er  fi-om 
this  gronp.  Kor  this  and  other  reasons,  I  hidieve  we  have 
to  do  with  an  external  feeder,  representinj?  an  ancient  complex, 
havinj.?  the  (diaracters  of  ditferent  f,n'i»iips  (d'  the  lower  liom- 
byces  iind.  as  I  say,  "structurally  remote  frum  any  described 
United  States  genus/-  From  such  slender  material  1  may 
be  wrong  to  di'aw  a  decided  comdusion.  but  1  have  long  been 
of  th(!  opinion  that  wi;  should  find  older  existing  types  in 
North  America  than  elsewhere  and  1  mentioned  this  to  my 
kind  friend  and  ex(dlent  lepidopterist  Mr.  Arthur  <l.  Hiitlei-. 
when  1  last  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  him  and  studying 
the  unrivalled  collection  of  fhiwhifcidar  in  the  Hiitish  xMuseum. 
For  it  is  in  the  HdhiIijii  itluc  that  we  must  expect  Just  such 
discoveries  in  the  Moths.  We  have  certainly  the  oldest 
type  of  Butt(!i-Hy  now  surviving  in  our  J'd/i'olif's/icrn/ar.  And 
this  type  tends  to  biidge  the  gap  between  the  two  series, 
so  that  Ave  can  feel  more  certain  that  the  primitive  type  of 
the  Order  Avas  a  Moth,  and  that  the  ButterHies  are  a  later 
development  keeping  pace  with  the  flowers  and  the  sunlight. 


Series  II.     Heterueera.     Night  Butterflies,  Moths. 

I  refer  to  my  original  paper  (187;{)  on  the  differences 
between  the  Butterflies  and  Moths.  This  does  not  lie  so 
much  in  the  structure  of  the  antennae  as  in  their  position. 
In  the  Butterflies  they  are  more  uniform  in  length  and  type, 
more  rigid,  directed  upward:  in  the  moths  more  varied,  flex- 
able,  directed  backward  along  the  plane  of  the  body,  more 
susceptible  to  impressions.  The  eyes,  although  functionally 
incomplete  and  many-facetted,  are  probably  of  greater  use 
to  the  Butterflies  than  to  the  Cloths ;  in  the  daytime,  no 
less  than  at  night,  the  Moths  depend  more  on  the  antennae, 
as  may  be    seen   by  the    quivering   motion  of  these  organs 


:!| 


24 


before  taking  fliglit.  I  liave  seen  these  fundamental  distinc- 
tions stated  by  no  otlier  author.  The  rigidity  and  uniformity 
of  the  antennae  in  the  Butterflies  point  to  a  decrease  of 
functional  use. 

Joined  to  such  diverse  antennae,  the  extremes  of  which 
I   liave   given   as    represented   by  HcpiaJus  and  AdeJa,    we 
have  a  great  diversity   in  size   and  shape  among  the  Moths 
as  compared  with  the  Butterflies.     Tiie   tiniest  Tineid  is  no 
larger   than    the    diameter    of  the   eye    of  the   Great  Gray 
Banded  Owlet,   Tlnj^ania,  from  the  Brazils.     The  wings  are 
various  in  color   but   especially  in   outline;    they  have  clear 
spots,    looking    like    holes,    Attacns,    Apntelodes,    Selenia,    or 
nearly  scaleless,   Sesia,  Houaris.     In   this   latter  the   scales 
are  present  on  leaving  the  pupa,  and   hence  this  may  be  a 
more    recent    form.      The    wings    are   entire   but   again    are 
ragged   and  broken   in  api)earance ;    in  one   group  they  are 
rayed.     As  the  Fi/ralidnc  and  lower  families  have  more  than 
two  dorsal  or  internal   veins    on  secondaries,   a   section  has 
been  separated  under  the  name  of  Microlepidoptom,    as  con- 
trasting with  all  the  rest,    known  as  Macrohpidoptrra.     But 
the  present   classification   into  two  Series  by  Boisduval  and 
Dumeril,  seems  to    be  both    sufficient  and  natural.     I   have 
found  some  American  Pi/ralidac  with  only  two  internal  veins, 
so  far  as  I  could  see.     The  Moths  farther  contrast  by  their 
more  woolly,    tufted   or  hairy  bodies,   their   nocturnal  habit 
and   a  number    of  details    adaptive   to   their    mode    of   life. 
Most  interesting  are  the  American  genera  Sphida  and  Ar;;ama 
among  the  Owlet  Moths,  the  larvae  of  which,  as  discovered  by 
my  friend   Prof.    Comstock,    are   aquatic   in   their  habit,  re- 
calling the  previously  known  Pyralid  genus  Catachjsta  in  this 
respect.     The  presence  of  a  frenulum  and  hook  on  the  wings 
further  cliaracterizes  most  moths.     In  the  males  the  frenulum, 
arising  from    the   costae   of  hind  wings   at   base,    is  simple. 
In  the  following  Family  of  Moths,  the  large  size,  and  rapid 
flight  has   given   them   a  position   in  the    front  rank.     The 
first  division  into   groups,   as  now  adopted,  will  be  found  in 
my  Sphingidae  of  Cuba,  pp.  17  —  18  (1805). 


mm 


25 


Family  Sphingidae. 

Aii};li4*c:  Hawk  Moths. 

Oize  moderate  to  very  hws^e:  wings  narrow,  primaries 
long,  secondaries  short:  fremilum  ]>resent :  fringes  sliort :  vesti- 
ture  close:  tnfting-s.  excei)t  in  tlie  tir.st  tribe,  wanting:  ab- 
domen long,  heavy,  the  segments  usually  armed,  tuberculate 
orspinose:  head  i)rominent;  eyes  large  and  naked,  sometimes 
lashed;  no  ocelli:  antennae  prismatic:  labial  i>alpi  stout: 
tongue  very  variable  in  length  but  usually  long:  ilight  some- 
times diurnal,  usually  cre[)uscular,  sometimes  nocturnal. 

We  have  originally  proposed  ( \^V)'}\  the  European  genera 
Mdcrof/lossd.  with  the  type  sfdUifdriDii,  ('/Kicrnrtnii/Ki,  with 
the  type  porcclliis,  Snirrin/li/is,  with  the  tyi)e  ocrl/afa,  and 
Butler  follows  with  Ar/irroiz/la.  with  the  type  nfnipos.  as 
typical  of  the  five  (o)  gi-oups  into  whicdi  the  whole  family 
may  be  divi(h'd.  As  far  as  we  have  seen,  the  extra-Kui'opean 
genera  may  be  arranged  under  these  headings. 


Snl)fan)ily  Macroglossinae. 

AiiK:li('4>:  IJee  Hawk  Moths. 

Wings  shorter  than  usual;  abdomen  wider  and  Hatter 
with  caudal  tufts:  tliglit  often  diurnal ;  pupation  on  the  surface 
in  a  slight  v/eb  ot  silk.     Food  plants,  in  preference,  }'iljin;tHtti, 


IfeiiiariN.     Dalmau. 

Head  small,  but  not  sunken,  tongue  as  long  as  the  body. 
AnteriUae  clavate  witli  terminal  bent  seta,    bicijiate  in  male. 


■ 


J 


simple  in  female ;  body  smooth ;  Avings  largely  vitreous,  the 
dear  spaces  on  emergence  from  the  pupa  thinly  spread  with 
glittering  scales  which  tall  on  using  the  wings ;  body  smoothly 
scaled. 


• 


Subgenus  Hemaris. 

The  typical  group  is  colored  black  and  yellow  with  a 
red  apical  stain  on  forewings  on  the  terminal  black  band. 
Type:  H.  fHciformis. 

Tenuis.  Grote.  The  smallest  species  with  the  wings 
full,  without  or  with  a  hardly  perceptible  apical  stain  on 
terminal  band  which  is  narrow  and  rrrn  on  its  inner  edge. 
P^astern  and  Middle  States  and  Canada.  June,  July.  Larva 
on  yil)iin/)i)ii.  I  found  the  larva  on  Sipiiphoricarjnis,  plenti- 
fully in  the  old  Catholic  burying  ground  at  Buffalo,  green 
with  purple  black  venter  and  legs,  witli  a  rough  yellow  crest 
on  first  segment;  it  appears  to  differ  by  the  absence  of  a 
dorsal  shade  from  that  of  (liffii/is. 

mninis,  i^oisd,  A  little  stouter,  the  apical  stain 
marked,  the  inner  edge  of  the  band  finely  dentate  on  inter- 
spaces. IVIore  southerly  in  its  range.  May  to  August.  Lnna 
on  Bush  Honeysuckle,  Snowberry,  Feverwort.     (Fernald.) 

Iflarfjciiialiiii.  Grote.  Still  lai'ger,  with  the  dentation 
prominent,  as  also  the  apical  stain.  Ohio,  southwardly.  I 
figure  the  differences  between  these  species  in  the  Buffalo 
Bulletin.     The  Jarra  is  not  knowm. 

Axillaris.  G.  a.  R.  The  dentations  are  here  unequal 
and  very  deep,  the  red  apical  stain  extends  downwardly 
over  the  nervules  as  an  edging  to  the  band.  Ohio  to  Texas. 
The  specific  value  of  these  forms  has  not  been  fully  proven, 
nor  the  young  stages  compared. 


Subgenus  Chamaesesia.     (4r. 

<iira<*iliN.  G.  a.  R.  Resembles  somewhat  the  European 
Iionih}//ifor»ns,  the  band  being  of  a  brown  tint.  '^^Phe  fore- 
wings   are    bordered   by    brown    above,    beneath  paler,   with 


27 


white  edging  to  the  band  within ;  hindwings  crossed  b}'  firr 
veins  over  the  transparent  disc,  beneath  with  a  yelh)w  band 
at  anal  angle.  June-July.  Eastern  and  Middle  States,  Can. 
Rarer  than  the  other  species. 

Subgenus  Haemorrhag'ia.    Gr. 

The  thorax  is  more  produced  in  front  than  in  the  first 
groups  and  the  body  stouter,   colors    claret  red  and  olive. 

Thj^ibe.  Fabr.  {PchmjH^  Cram.).  Forewings  with 
the  border  claret  brown  or  red,  without  apical  stain ;  cell 
of  primaries  Avith  a  bar  in  middle ;  edge  witliin  of  terminal 
band  dcvtalc  Can.,  S(juthwardly.  ]\Iay  to  Aug.  Larra  on 
VihiirnHiii.  A  dimorphic  form,  rniforniis,  G.  a.  R.,  has  the 
band  rrr;?  .•  the  larva  is  described  by  Edwards  and  Eliot. 

Biilt'aloi'iiMi^.  G.  a.  R.  Smaller  than  the  preceding: 
the  cell  has  the  bar  fused  with  median  vein :  margin  of 
tei'minal  band  rrcii.  Larva  on  Vih/innnn  (ReineckeK  June. 
New  York.  Considered  by  some  writers  not  distinct  from 
preceding,  but  the  young  stages  have  not  been  compared. 
Prof.  Lintner  describes  the  larva  and  considers  the  species 
distinct. 

N.  B.  This  genus  is  incorrectly  called  "Sesia"  by  some 
Authors,  a  name  belonging  to  a  different  group  as  used  by 
German  writers  and  approved  by  Fernald.  It  is  also  merged 
with  Macrofilos.ia,  the  tyi)e  of  which  is  sffllnfarum  and  a 
number  of  Old  AVorld  forms :  against  this  practice  I  have 
protested  from  the  very  first  of  my  studies. 

I.<eiiiKei»ia.     Grote. 

Head  somewhat  sunken  into  the  short  and  s(iuare  thorax : 
the  evenly  margined  wings  are  entirely  scaled.  Primaries 
with  eleven  veins,  somewhat  centrally  depressed  on  costa 
Legs  comparatively  long  and  slender:  fore  tibiae  si)iuose. 
Flight  diurnal.     Larra  unknown. 

FlfivofaNointa.  liarnst.  Head  and  thorax  pale  yellow, 
palpi  black,  yellowish  beneath ;  abdomen  black,  first  segment 


n 


't 


J 


28 


above  yellow  as  also  the  tenuiiial  lateral  tufts.  Forewings 
blackish  with  a  pale  oblique  b;ni(l :  hind  wiiif^s  with  tlie  disc 
blight  orange  yellow  and  black  borders.  Can..  Eastern  States, 
Northern  New  York.     May — June.     Very  rare. 

AiiipliioRi.     Kubn. 

Head  small,  but  tree  from  thorax,  tongue  nearly  as  long 
as  body:  antennae  prominently  hooked  at  tips.  Forewings 
excavate  below  ai)ex  and  abov(!  anal  angle ;  hindwings  with 
the  mnrgins  slightly  dentate.  This  genus  approaches  in  some 
points  the  tropical  genus  J'>'ri(/<n/i(i. 

XoN>iii.s.  Cram.  Fore  wings  dull  rusty  brown  crosst'd 
by  a  dark  brown  oblique  band,  beyond  which  is  a  line  fol- 
lowed by  shade  spots  of  same  color:  hindwings  dark  brown 
with  an  obli(|ue  reddish  central  band,  with  pale  yellow 
fringes  broken  Avith  brown:  beneath  rusty  red  Avith  pale 
yellow  liiteral  stripe  beneath  the  wings  running  from  the 
antennae.  Can  southward.  Very  common.  May  to  Aug. 
Larrff.  green  oi'  brown,  on  Atn})clf>))f<is  and  grape  and  has  a 
caudal  horn  wanting  in  the  mature  larva  of  the  next  genus. 

Tli.yroiiK.     Swains. 

Head  with  a  piominent  ridged  tuft  above  between  the 
fuslfoi'm  antennae  which  terminate  in  a  long  hook;  thorax 
somewhat  globular,  stout,  tuft<'d  behind:  abdomen  flattened, 
with  anal  tufts  pointed  in  the  female,  more  spreading  in 
the  male. 

Tnis  genus  is  very  distinct  and  somewhat  isolated,  Avhile 
it  sufticiently  resembles  the  pri^ceding.  The  abdomen  in  shape 
recalls  the  highest  genera  of  the  group. 

Abhotii.  Swains.  Forewings  very  dark  brown,  an- 
gulated  on  outer  margin,  crossed  by  several  darker  dentate 
lines.  Head  wings  lemon  yellow  with  daik  brown  terminal 
band:  beneath  lighter  colored.  Ltimi  gi-eenish  or  brown, 
mature  with  an  ocellus  insted  of  the  discarded  anal  horn,  on 
AnijH'Jopsis  and  grape.  The  moth  is  locally  quite  common. 
May  to  August.     Canada  southward. 


i' 


C:'^ 


20 


Kiiyo.     Hiibn. 

Head  i)r()nniient  witli  interanteiinal  ridge,  eyes  large ; 
thorax  heavy ;  ah(h)iiien  long  and  tapering  with  small  terminal 
tnft;  fore  wings  angulate. 

Iiiig;iibriN.  Linn.  Elntirely  dark  brown,  shaded  with 
paler:  the  primaries  with  discal  dot  and  exterior  rigid  line. 
Larr((  on  Ani/H-Jfipsis  and  (irape.  May  to  September,  (bmble 
brooded  in  the  South  where  it  is  connnon.  New  ^'ork  to 
West  Indies,  rare  in  the  North. 


I^cidaiiiia.     Chin. 

Fore  wings  rather  narrow  as  in  Tlnfroi.--.  and  also  an- 
gnlated  on  external  margin.  Head  with  a  ridged  tiit't  between 
antennae  whi(di  are  fusiform  and  hooked  at  tips:  abdonien 
with  a  slight  anal  tuft  :  tibiae  unaimed.  Allieil  tn  preceding 
genera -by  the  tufts,  the  brown  coloi'  and  shajte  of  iii'imaries; 
the  angnlated  geiu^'a  of  this  tribe  feed  also  on    I'/Z/V. 

IiiMoripla.  Hai'ris.  (Jreyish  brown  or  reddish,  the 
forewings  crossed  by  three  brownish  bands.  I'he  outer  mai'gin 
has  deeper  colored  Innnles  as  in  Aiii/ililoi/.  Hindwings  dull 
reddish  brown  with  white  fringes,  /jtrra  on  Amiiflojisi-^  and 
grape,  green  with  caudal  horn.  The  moth  is  found  from 
June  to  August.  Canada  to  Virginia.  Not  couniion.  No  known 
Smerinthoid  feeds  on  the  grape. 


Subfamily  Choerocampinae. 


.iiifrlioe:  Elephant  Hawk  Moths. 

Abdomen  untufted  :  colors  gay,  often  green,  yellow  and 
roseate,  Avings  hmg  and  with  sliaip.  often  falcated  tips,  larva 
with  the  first  segments  narrow  and  capable  of  retraction; 
pupation  sometimes  in  a  slight  cocoim  on  surface  of  ground; 
Food  plants,  in  preference,    VUi^,  Amjx'Iopsis. 


li 


HO 


Kveryx.     Boisd. 
Head  small  with  a  ridged  tuft  between  antennae  which 

are    slender,   fusiform  and   liooked  at  tii)S,    strongly  biciliate 

in  the  males,   simple   in    female.      Fore    and   middle   tibiae 

spinose ;  abdominal  segments  unarmed. 

Clioeriliiw.  Cram.  Rusty  red  and  fawn  color,  wings 
crossed  by  various  shade  lines  and  with  a  discal  spot,  beneath 
paler.  Common.  May  to  August.  Canada  southwardly, 
liarva  on  AnipcJo/isis  and  grape,  as  also  on  Azaleas  and 
Sheep-berrj' ;  Edwards  and  Eliot  give   Vihiirnnm. 

Aiiipclophaga.     Bremer. 

Agrees  with  Ercnjx  except  that  the  tibiae  are  unarmed. 
Larva  transforming  in  a  cocoon  on  surface  of  the  ground. 

]?I;^'roii.  Cram.  Fore  wings  grayish  green  with  olive 
green  bands  ;  hind  wings  dull  red.  In  the  South  ocurs  vnr. 
Ciiotus.  Hubn.,  with  the  primaries  suffused  and  obscurely 
colored.  May  to  August,  (^uite  conunon.  Larva  on  Anipe- 
Jo2)sis  and  grape.     Canada,  southwardly. 

Versicolor.  Harris.  A  beautiful  species  with  dark 
green  forewings  crossed  by  whitish  lines  and  rust  red  hind- 
wings  with  grayish  and  greenish  borders;  beneath,  shaded 
with  reddish,  yellow  and  white.  May  to  August.  Canada 
to  Middle  States.  Larra  on  CcjJialaiiflnis,  and  Nesaea  verfi- 
ciJIata.  Rather  rare.  We  are  indebted  to  the  researches 
of  Rev.  G.  D.  Hulst,  for  our  knowledge  of  the  larva. 


1^- 


1 


I>eiloiiclie.     Grote. 

Head  moderate,  untufted ;  tongue  as  long  the  body ; 
thorax  smooth  •  abdomen  slender,  tai)ering ;  tibiae  unarmed ; 
eyes  naked,  unlashed :  middle  tibiae  with  one  pair  of  unequal 
spurs,  hind  tibiae  with  two  pairs:  wings  narrow;  primaries 
r2-veined,  evenly  margined,  outer  margin  somewhat  sickle- 
shaped. 

Tersa.  Linn.  ForeAvings  light  brownish  yellow  or 
ochrey,   with  a  smoky   brown  spot   at   base  and  a  number 


81 


of  fine  lines  extending  from  apices  to  inner  niaigin,  divei'ging 
inferiorly ;  liindvvings  black  with  a  snl)tei'niinal  row  of  wedge- 
sliai)ed  yellowish  spots.  Larva  on  Button  weed  (Spermacocc 
(/Jahra).  Rare  in  Canada  and  P^astern  States,  more  conniion 
in  the  South ;  it  has  at  least  two  congeners  :  I>.  KohiiiNoiiii, 
Grote,  in  Cuba  and  I>.  Fal<*o,  Walk.,  in  Mexico:  com- 
parative studies  must  be  made  with  other  forms  referred  by 
Butler  to  Clioerocawpa,  a  genus  with  European  types. 

]>oili>|»liila.     Ochs. 

Head  moderate,  untufted;  tongue  about  as  long  as  the 
body;  antennae  enlarging  to  tips  which  are  "provided  with 
a  slender  bristly  hook:  abdomen  smooth,  cylindrical,  stout: 
tibiae  unarmed:  fore  tarsi  with  a  row  of  curved  spines  ahmg 
the  outside :  wings  entiie,  evenly  margined. 

C'liaiiiiK'iierii.  Hanis.  Ke))resents  the  European 
(Uili),  of  which  it  seems  a  variety.  The  American  specimens 
differ  by  a  warmer  tint  on  central  fascia  of  forewings,  which 
fascia  is  not  excavated  inwardly  at  base  and  not  so  continued 
superiorly,  while  our  s])ecies  has  a  distinct  apical  black 
streak:  the  hind  wings  more  i)urely  roseate.  Not  uncommon. 
Canada  to  Middle  States.  In  Cuba  I>.  <'«lverlc\vi  takes 
its  place.  Larva  on  grape  and  Evening  Primrose  as  well 
as  Epilohium. 

liiiieata.  Fabr.  Differs  from  the  European  Lironiira 
by  a  third,  central  white  stripe  on  the  tegulae  and  by  the 
abdominal  markings.  Olive  brown  with  a  buff  stripe  on  tore- 
wings  from  apex  to  base  and  the  veins  marked  with  white : 
hindwings  black  with  a  central  reddish  band  enclosing  a 
white  spot  near  the  margin.  Very  common,  flying  also  in 
the  middle  of  the  day  on  flowers.  Canada  to  West  Indies 
and  California.  Ltirra  on  PortHlacra  and  a  large  number  of 
plants,  very  variable  in  color,  caudal  horn  yellowish  and 
rough.     May  to  September;  double  brooded. 

Philaiiipeliis.     Harris. 
Allied   rather   to  Dcilcphila.    though   differently  colored, 
the  head  being  also  more  i)rominent,  the  tongue  longer:  the 


abdoiiu'ii  tiipcrs  inor(i  griuluallv  and  in  tliis  resembles  Ihi- 
hincltr :  tibiae  not  spinose,  middle  tibiae  with  (me  pair  of 
lung,  very  nneiiual  spnrs,  hind  tibiae  with  two  i)air,  all  as 
in  Ih'iloiirJic.  than  which  this  is  wider  winged,  heavier,  dithe- 
ring by  the  cylindrical  abdomen  being  armed  on  the  hinder 
edge  of  the  segments.  In  some  respects  the  typical  genus 
of  the  group;  larvae  on  grape  and  Amprlopsis. 

Tit  In.  Drury.  {Jussicmic  Hiibn.,  fasr in/us  Sulz).  A 
handsome  species  with  bright  olive  green  i)rimaries,  displaying 
a  pale  flesh  colored  stripe  from  apex  to  middle  of  the  base 
and  crossed  by  a  similar  one  from  middle  of  hinder  margin 
to  (»uter  fourth  of  costa  ;  hindwings  rose  red  within,  inter- 
rupted by  whitish  green  hairs  separating  the  rose  red  outer 
band,  which  is  margined  within  by  a  black  band;  the  rose 
colored  terminal  band  is  ended  by  a  (piadrate  brown  spot 
and  distinguishes  the  i)resent  sj)ecies.  L(irr((  on  the  grape. 
Kare  in  the  North  in  -lune-July. 

Uiiiiei.  0.  a.  li.  This  si)ecies,  found  only  in  the 
South,  has  been  confounded  with  the  foregoing  by  a  number 
of  writers  and  the  synonymy  became  embroiled  in  conse([uence, 
until  we  tigured  and  described  it.  Daik  olive  green,  more 
robust  than  Vifis;  the  bands  on  anterior  wings  are  mixed 
with  white :  the  V-shai)ed  space  on  internal  margin  large 
and  not  enclosed  on  margin.  Hindwings  green ;  a  large 
rose-colored  space  on  anal  angle  and  along  internal  nuirgin ; 
a  large  black  si)()t  within :  two  narrow  nu^dian  lines  :  a  broad 
subterminal  black  band :  terminal  space  narrow,  dull  ochrey, 
nowhere  pink  and  thus  unlike  Vifis.  Both  these  forms  are 
connuun  in  West  Indies  and  South  America  where  they  feed 
on  grape:  the  present  is  tigured  by  Cranu^r  under  the  name 
I7//V.-  but  Drury,  the  A\'iener  Verzeichniss,  Abbot  I'^c  Smith 
and  others  sufticiently  show  what  species  is  jiroperly  included 
under  this  title.     Rare,  in  Southern  States. 

Po!>itU*atiiM.  Grote.  Only  reported  from  Florida. 
Ditt'ers  from  SafrUifia  by  its  narrower  shai)e  and  straighter 
external  margin  of  the  wings.  Hindv,iugs  with  a  large 
roseate    spot    on    internal    margin    covering    anal    angle;    a 


l,«i 


33 


somewhat  rounded  blackis)i  spot  within ;  a  subterminal  series 
of  interspaceal  black  maculations  continued  distinctly  to  costa. 
General  color  dull  olivaceous.  Described  by  me  originally 
from  Cuba  under  the  name  Lj/caori,  but  differing  from  that 
species  according  to  the  British  Museum  collections.  Food 
plant  and  larva  unknown.  Another  West  Indian  species  is 
described  by  me  in  the  Bulletin  of  the  Buifalo  Society  of 
Natural  Sciences  the  type  of  which  is  contained  in  Agassiz  *) 
Museum,  Cambridge. 

Panilorus.  Htibn.  {Satellifia  Harris.)  This  species 
inhabits  Canada  and  the  Northern  parts  of  the  United  States 
and  differs  speciiically  from  the  South  American  P.  sateUitia 
of  Linnaeus.  Pale  greenish,  marked  with  spots  of  rich  olive 
green.  The  forewings  have  a  large  olive  green  spot  on  the 
middle  of  hind  margin  and  a  triangular  spot  of  green  rests 
on  the  hinder  margin  just  within  anal  angle,  while  another, 
more '  diffuse,  rests  on  costa  a  little  within  the  apex ;  the 
wing  is  crossed  by  various  shade  lines  and  the  veins  are 
partly  marked  with  ochrey,  a  character  often  escaping  notice. 
Hind  wings  with  a  dark  brown  spot  near  hind  margin  and 


*)  During  the  life-time  of  this  distinguished  Naturalist  and  most  success- 
ful lecturer  and  teacher,  I  was  invited  to  study  the  Sphingidae  in  the 
Museum,  but  was  unable  to  visit  Cambridge  at  the  time.  The  collection 
there  contains  but  two  or  three  of  my  types,  sent  me  long  afterwards 
for  study  to  Buffalo.     My  letter  from  Prof.  Louis  Agassiz  was  as  follows : 


Dear  Sir! 


Cambridge,  Dec.  11th-  1866. 


In  absence  of  Mr.  Uhler,  who  may  however  return  in  a  few  days, 
I  cannot  say  whether  the  collection  of  Sphingidae  and  moths  are  likely 
to  be  sufficiently  extensive  in  your  estimation  to  justify  you  in  coming 
to  Cambridge  to  work  them  up.  Meanwhile  I  would  say  that  if  you 
decide  to  come  I  shall  give  you  every  facility  I  can  for  your  work.  I 
would  be  glad  to  see  that  part  of  our  collections  worked  up.  My  son 
has  already  written  to  you  what  the  rules  of  our  Museum  are;  so  I  need 
add  nothing  upon  this  point.  Mr.  Uhler  could  give  you  more  accurate 
information  than  I  can  concerning  your  arrangements  here. 

Very  respectfully  yours 

(Signed)  L.  Agassiz. 

5 


.^4 


a  band  of  same  color  witliin  outer  margin  whicli  changes 
into  lines  and  black  spots  towards  the  anal  angle,  there 
being  no  roseate  patches  or  bands  as  in  other  species  and 
as  we  see  in  the  species  of  IkUcphila.  Common.  May  to 
August.  Larva  on  grape,  becoming  brown  at  maturity, 
when  the  caudal  horn  of  its  first  stages  is  discarded.  Mr. 
Bunker  of  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  describes  the  larva  and  speaks 
of  the  number  of  broods. 

Achenioii.  Drury.  This  species  is  pinkish  gray  with 
lovely  rich  brown  patches,  much  as  the  deep  green  ones  in 
Pamhrus.  Hind  wings  pinkish  with  a  spotted,  pinkish  gray 
border.  Larva  on  AmpdopKis  and  grape.  Common  and 
widely  distributed.  It  is  a  curious  fact  that  we  have  these 
two  colors  brown  and  green  represented  in  the  larvae  and 
moths  of  so  many  species  of  Hawk  Moths.  This  brown 
FhiJampdm  has  an  ally  in  M'^.xico,  and  contrasts  strongly 
with  the  numerous  green  species  of  the  genus  in  color. 


Subfamily  Smerinthinae. 

Anglice:  Eyed  Hawk  Moths. 

In  this  tribe  the  larvae  have  a  cordate  head  and  granu- 
lated appearance;  the  moths  have  the  head  usually  impromi- 
nent;  tongue  short  and  membranous;  the  body  clumsy  and 
the  flight  heavy  and  nocturnal;  the  typical  genera  have 
ocellated  hindwings.  The  typical  genus  Smerinthus  is  con- 
fined to  the  West  coast.    Food  plants,  in  preference,  Bosaceae. 

Calasyiubolus.     Grote. 

Head  small  and  sunken,  more  or  less  tufted  between  the 
antennae,  in  some  species  marked  like  a  ridge;  labial  palpi 
short;  segments  of  abdomen  and  tibiae  unarmed.  Forewings 
with  the  external  margin  even  and  more  or  less  angulated 
not  dentated. 


35 


a.   Antennae  of  the  male  biciliated ;  tibiae  unarmed. 
Subgenus  ('(iJ(is!fnihoIi(,s.     Gr. 

ANtyliiN.  Drury.  Our  liandsomest  species,  of  a  lovely 
rosy  brown  or  cinnamon  color,  sutfused  with  lilac:  the  tints 
recalling  those  prevalent  in  certain  Saturnians  or  Juniohiidar. 
Forewings  but  slightly  angulated,  with  a  purplish  shade  on 
internal  margin  and  crossed  by  faint  darker  lines;  a  yellow 
spot  at  anal  angle;  hindwings  ochre  yellow,  shading  into 
rosy  brown  outwardly  and  a  round  black  ocellus  with  a  blue 
pupil  rests  on  the  wing  near  anal  angle.  Rare.  June,  July. 
Larra  on  Swamp  Blueberry  (Vacvinium).  Canada  to  Middle 
States. 

9l.yoi»N.  Abbot  a.  Sm.  This  species  lias  the  forewings 
more  angulated  and  is  a  little  slighter  while  of  the  same 
expanse.  The  wings  are  choccolate  brown,  darker  and  con- 
fusedly marked  by  lines  and  shades;  hindwings  yellow 
margined  with  brown  and  with  a  black,  blue  ].n]tilled  ocellus 
near  anal  angle.  Larni  on  Uosacca,  (Apple,  Plum  andCherry). 
More  frecpient  than  Asfi/his.  Canada  to  Southern  States. 
Single  brooded.     June,  July. 

b.   Fore  tibiae  with  a  terminal  spine. 
Subgenus  CajrismfrinthHS.     Or. 

CeriNii.  Kirby.  This  is  a  larger  species  than  (ichii- 
vatiis;  very  rare  and  inhabiting  Canada  and  the  Northern 
States.  The  foreAvings  are  grey  with  wavy  brown  lines; 
hindwings  dull  rosy  red  in  the  middle  and  bordered  all  round 
with  dull  clay  yellow  and  there  is  a  black  spot  connected 
with  the  anal  angle,  on  the  hinder  part  of  the  red,  con- 
taining a  horse-shoe  shaped  spot  of  blue,  the  open  part  to- 
wards anal  angle.  In  the  next  species  this  spot  is  chuhle. 
May,  June.     Larva  unknown. 

c.  Male  antennae  bipectinate;  tibiae  unarmed. 
Subgenus  Eusmerintkus.     Gr. 

Oeminatus.  Say.  Gray,  with  a  faint  rosy  tint,  the 
forewings   crossed  by  an  angulated  brown   line  followed  by 


i 


j 


36 


If 


a  brown  shade  and  this  by  several  indistinct  wavy  lines; 
a  lunule  of  brown  edged  with  white  at  anal  angle ;  hind- 
wings  rosy  with  gray  borders  and  having  a  large  black  spot 
with  two  blue  spots  on  it  near  anal  angle.  Occasionally 
a  third  hhie  spot  appears  on  the  black  (var.  trlpartltusi,  Gr.) 
and  sometimes  but  a  single  spot  is  found  {rar.  Jaiiiaivensiis, 
Drury).  Lnrra  on  llosaceae,  also  on  Willow.  Not  common. 
Single  brooded,  the  moth  appearing  in  June,  July.  Can.  to 
Middle  States.  Drury's  locality,  if  his  indifferent  figure  re- 
presents our  species,  is  incorrect.  This  species  with  others 
of  this  group  brings  forward  the  anterior  margin  of  the  hind 
wings  in  a  state  of  rest.  In  this  position  the  lovely  C.  asfylus 
looks  like  a  crumpled  leaf. 

PaoniaH.    Htibn. 

Head  small  and  sunken  with  a  prominent  ridged  tuft 
between  the  antennae;  tongue  membranous,  no  longer  than 
palpi ;  antennae  fusiform,  biciliate  in  males,  hooked  at  the 
end;  thorax  short;  abdomen  long,  cylindrical,  tapering,  seg- 
ments unarmed ;  tibiae  unarmed ;  forewings  regularly  scalloped 
on  terminal  margin. 

£xcaecatus.  Abb.  a.  Sm.  Rich  brown  and  fawn 
color,  forewings  crossed  by  sinuous  brown  lines ;  hindwings 
rosy  red,  with  a  black  spot  containing  a  blue  center,  bordered 
with  fawn  color,  with  a  yellowish  patch  before  anal  angle. 
Common.  June,  July.  Can.  to  Southern  States.  Lnrra  on 
Bosaceae,  Apple,  Plum,  Cherry  etc.,  also  on  a  variety  of 
forest  trees. 

O^^ssonla.    G.  a.  E. 

Head  small  and  isunken  in  thorax;  f'^rm  slender,  that 
of  the  males  recalling  the  American  Bombycid  genus  Apate- 
lodes;  palpi  slim,  divaricating  at  tip;  abdomen  slender,  seg- 
ments unarmed,  with  small  anal  tufts  in  male ;  all  the  tibiae 
armed  with  spinules;  wings  with  the  outer  margins  dentate. 

Juglandis.  Abb.  a.  Sm.  Pale  grayish  fawn;  fore- 
wings crossed  by  brown  lines,  the  females  paler  colored; 
hindwings  concolorous  with   wavy   brown  lines  across   the 


37 


middle;  uiiocellated.  Larva  on  Walnut  and  Ironwood.  Not 
common.  June,  July.  Canada  to  Southern  States.  Varies 
in  depth  of  color,  sometimes  with  a  light  purplish  reflection; 
distinguished  by  its  slender  form  and  bombyciform  appearance; 
structurally  it  is  nearest  to  Paonias. 

Triptogon.     Bremer. 

Stout  and  sphingifonn ;  head  small  and  sunken :  fore 
tibiae  with  a  spine  at  extremity  of  the  joint;  tibiae  else 
unarmed ;  surface  of  abdomen  si>inose  beneath  the  scales ; 
antennae  fusiform  without  terminal  hook,  biciliate  in  males, 
simple  in  females.  This  genus  prepares  us  for  the  following 
Sphinginae. 

Hodesta.  Harris.  This  large  moth  is  of  a  slaty  gray 
with  darker  olivaceous  bands  and  shadings  on  primaries ; 
hindwings  with  a  dusky  roseate  central  i)atch.  Lana  on 
Poplar  and  Cotton  wood.  June  to  August.  Canada  to 
Southern  States  (Cnhlei)  where  the  larva  is  said  to  feed  on 
water  plants.  Not  rare.  A  variety  Occidentallsi  occurs 
in  the  West. 


I 


Subfamily  Sphinginae. 


.( 


Anglice:  Typical  Hawk  3Ioths. 

Large,  usually  gray  and  blackish  species  with  well 
developed  tongue  and  entire  wings  with  internervnlar  sub- 
terminal  dashes  on  primaries.  Larva  pupating  in  the  earth; 
flight  crepuscular  or  nocturnal.  Food  plants,  in  preference, 
Solenaceae,   Syrinya. 

C^raioniia.     Harris. 

The  horned  larva,  feeding  on  elm,  allies  the  moth  to  the 
preceding  genus  and  the  soft  brown  colors  of  the  imago  are 
Smerinthoid.  Also  the  head  is  small,  somewhat  sunken  as  in  pre- 
ceding group.  Abdomen  heavy,  tapering,  the  segments  armed  on 


li 


'  i 


38 


hinder  edge ;  tibiae  not  spinose ;  antennae  fusiform  and  ending 
in  a  small  hook:  foi-ewings  nearly  entire,  with  a  slight  ex- 
cavation at  vein  2:  all  the  characters  show  approximations 
to  the  Smcrhitliiiuw  and  warrant  this  arrangement  of  the 
family. 

Ainyntor.  Hiibn.  (Qimdricornis  Harr.)  Soft  brown 
and  whitish  gray,  apin-oaching  in  its  pale  colors  succeeding 
genera:  forewings  shaded  with  soft  brown  and  crossed  by 
gatherings  of  triple  brown  lines;  hind  wings  clay  color, 
shaded  with  brown ;  the  fringes  brown,  cut  with  pale  yellowish. 
Lnrrn  with  the  granulated  appearance  of  preceding  group. 
Common.  Canada  to  ]\[iddle  States.  May  to  August,  perhaps 
usually  double  brooded  in  southerly  localities.  In  Buifalo, 
N.  Y.,  larvae  of  the  second  brood  failed  to  mature  before 
the  cold  came. 

l>arciuiiia.     Walk. 

Head  small  and  sunken;  antennae  fusiform,  with  small 
hook ;  abdomen  cylindrical  and  tapering,  the  segments  armed 
as  in  (Wutontia,  tibiae  not  spinose.  Larva  without  horns 
on  thoracic  segments. 

Undulofna.  Walk.  [I'cponi'nint^  Clem.).  Gray,  mixed 
with  yellowish  scales ;  forewings  crossed  by  pairs  of  darker, 
wavy  or  angulated  lines  ;  hind  wings  darker,  smoky  brown, 
with  the  fringes  Avhite  cut  with  brown.  TMrra  on  lilac,  ash 
and  })i-ivet.  Not  rare.  Canada  to  Middle  States.  June 
August.  In  the  South  are  allied  species:  Hu)!;oiii«  Grote, 
in  Texas;  Catalpac,  Hoisd.,  in  Georgia  and  Florida.  The 
trop'.cai  genus  Sy~y(}ia,  (t.  a.  R.,  is  related. 


I 


l>i India.     G.  a.  R. 

Larger  and  stouter,  with  the  tliorax  more  produced 
anteriorly:  antennae  fusiform,  with  slight  terminal  booklet; 
abdomen  cylindrical,  the  segments  armed;  wings  entire,  ex- 
cavate above  anal  angle;  rough  gray  species  with  darker 
secondaries.  Bnmtes  of  Drury,  recognised  by  me  from  Cuba, 
belongs  here. 


89 


Jasiiiincai'iiiii.  Boisd.  a,  Lee.  Size  large,  gray: 
tlie  forevvings  crossed  by  wavy  lines,  and  witli  darker,  brown 
shadings,  and  smoky  brown,  shaded  secondaries.  Rarely 
found  in  Middle  States;  Long  Island  (Hulst);  not  conunon 
in  the  South  and  one  of  the  rarer  species  of  the  family. 

l>olba.     Walk. 

A  smaller  form  than  those  with  which  it  is  here  associ- 
ated, yet  agreeing  in  some  respects  with  Baremma  and 
standing  between  it  and  Phh'(f('t/i,vifiii}<;  the  head  is  small, 
though  free,  and  roughly  scaled ;  the  tongue  longer  than  the 
body.  The  abdomen  is  somewhat  conical  and  peculiar  in  shape : 
the  segments  armed  with  round  spinules :  the  tibiae  unarmed  ; 
the  thorax  approaches  by  its  shape  that  of  PhhujcthoniiHS, 
and  in  colors  the  single  species  has  a  slight  resemblance  to 
F.  r'tsHca. 

HjlaeiiK.  Drury.  (Priiii  Abb.  a.  Sm.)  Dark  rusty 
brown :  thorax  white  on  the  sides :  abdomen  with  a  row  of 
lateral  white  spots:  beneath  white:  forewings  dark  rusty 
brown,  with  a  white  spot  at  base  and  one  on  disk,  crossed 
by  dark  brown  lines  and  with  an  apical  white  shading: 
hindwings  dark  smoky  brown  crossed  bj-  two  dentate  white 
*  lines :  fringes  checkered,  white  and  brown.  Lana  on  Ilr.r, 
Papaw  (Asi)iiiiiia  friloixt),  perhaps  (Scudder)  on  Sweet  Fern. 
Not  rare  in  certain  localities.  Canada  to  Gulf  States,  rather 
more  usual  in  the  South.     June,  July. 

Plilcji^ctlioiitiiiN.  Hlibn. 
Large  species  of  an  iron  gray  color  Avith  large,  brightly 
colored  spots  on  the  side  of  the  abdomen,  yellow  <»r  rose 
color;  tlie  species  are  Southern  except  P.  rvh'iis:  it  is  prol)able 
that  the  European  cinn-ohidi  b  >ngs  here  and  not  to  the 
gentis  Sphinx.  Thorax  with  p;.rt,  jlored  metathoracic  tufts. 
The  iongiie  exceeds  the  body  :  the  head  ^s  prominent,  large; 
eyes  salient;  antennae  fusifoi-m  ending  in  a  slight  seta; 
abdomen  with  the  segments  armed  with  round  spinules; 
tibiae  unarmed:  \\ings  ample,  entire.  Lana  with  a  thick 
caudal  horn,  pupating   in  the  grouiul;  iiapa  with  the  ton'^ue 


\   \ 


J  f 


40 


case  separate,  "like  a  jug-hanule."  There  is  a  certain  resem- 
blance between  this  and  the  next  genus  to  the  Acherontinae, 
an  Old  World  group,  and  this  in  all  stages. 

Kustiea.  Fabr.  (Chionanfhi  Abh.  r.  Sm.).  Very  large, 
the  primaries  shaded  with  deep  brown ;  abdomen  with  yellow 
spots ;  a  handsome  species,  found  only  occasionally  outside 
of  the  Southern  States ;  reported  to  me  from  Ohio  and 
Kentucky,  also  New  Jersey. 

Carolina.  Linn.  "Tobaco  worm."  Dark  gray,  the 
wii'gs  crossed  by  a  number  of  wavy,  indistinct  lines;  a 
white  spot  at  base  of  forewings  and  one  edged  with  dark 
scales  on  disc ;  hindwings  gray,  with  a  basal  smoky  spot, 
crossed  by  three  darker  lines  and  with  smoky  borders ;  ab- 
domen with  five  dark  yellow  spots,  surrounded  with  black. 
Larva  on  Solenaceae  (Tobaco,  etc.).  Common ;  double  brooded. 
West  Indies,  northward  to  Canada. 

Celeu.«>i.  Hiibn.  {(^arolina  Harr.).  "Tomato  \\  irm." 
This  is  rather  heavier  than  preceding  and  more  common  at 
the  North,  I  have  not  seen  it  from  the  Gulf  States.  It  is 
paler  colored,  more  cinereous  or  ashen;  forewings  with  the 
lines  more  evident:  hind  Avings  quite  pale  crossed  by  two 
strongly  dentated  lines  over  the  middle,  a  curved  line  • 
within  and  a  smoky  spot  at  base  of  winp":  abdomen  with 
five  dark  yellow  spots  as  in  preceding  species  (hence  the 
name  '>-macidnta,  under  which  this  form  was  described  by 
English  authors).  Common,  double  brooded.  Larva  green 
and  brown  in  color,  on  Solenaceae,  especially  Tomatos,  also 
on  Datura  and  Tobaco.     Canada  southward. 

Ciiigulata.  Fabr.  Much  stouter  than  the  European 
ConvaJvidi  and  shaded  with  brighter  roseate.  Very  dark  gray; 
the  thorax  behind  distinctly  shaded  with  blue  and  yello^',' 
over  the  metathoracic  tufts.  Hind  wings  shaded  with  ros3 
color  and  live  rose  colored  spots,  somewhat  squarer  than 
usual,  adorn  the  abdomen,  separated  by  black  bands.  Not 
so  common  as  the  preceding.  West  Indies,  northward  to 
Canada.  Larva  on  Convolvulus,  Sweet  Potato  and  al>  on 
Solenaceae. 


* 


41 


ib- 


on 


Atreus.    Grote. 

Smaller  and  approaching  SpJiinx  in  appearance ;  the  head 
prominent;  ej'es  salient:  antennae  slender  at  tip  where  they 
are  bent;  fore  tibiae  spinose  as  (according  to  Fernald)  are 
those  of  P.  ceJf'Ks.  The  type  is,  I  think,  not  congeneric 
with  the  European  Piuaftfri,  nor  can  I  find  an  Hubnerian 
genus  for  its  reception;  I  should  leave  it  in  PhlciietJionfius, 
as  Fernald  f^ecms  to  suggest,  but  it  ditfers  in  the  12- veined 
primaries,  the  want  of  an  antennal  seta,  in  the  fusion  of 
the  tongue-case  in  t^-p  pupa  and  in  the  general  style  of 
markings  no  less  than  in  the  sti'ucture  of  the  labial  palpi. 
Seqnoiap,  Boisd.,  may  belong  to  Hi/Jniais  and  be  congeneric 
with  the  European  J'inasfri,  which  this  is  not.*) 

PU'boiuN.  Fabr.  Forewings  gray,  witl'  a  white  discal 
spot  ringed  with  black,  heavy  black  dashes  between  the 
veins  and  .crossed  by  faint,  partly  incomplete  lines.  Hind- 
wings  dark  smoky  brown,  grayish  towards  base  and  on  the 
anal  angle  :  fringes  brown  and  white.  Lonn  som.ewhat  rough 
with  a  caudal  horn  curving  only  towards  its  tip,  blue,  with 
irregular  black  tubercles:  the  caudal  horn  will  be  found  to 
play  an  important  part  in  the  classification,  as  it  \aries  so 
much  in  length  and  api)earance.  It  rises  from  the  top  of 
the  hind  segment  and  is  a  prolongation  of  the  skin  itself, 
stifiened  by  chitine.  It  is  sometimes  discarded,  replaced 
by  an  eye-spot.  It  is  very  curious  in  this  species  and  there 
is  a  slight  approach  to  Ac/irroiifia.  Afrcxs  pJcheixs,  feeds  on 
Trumpet  Creeper  (Fernald)  md  Si/rinaa,  where  I  have  found 
it.  The  moth  appoaches  the  section  of  Sj)lii)/:r  called  by 
Butler  Liutmrin,  but  dift'ers  much  more  strongly  in  structure. 
We  have,  then,  in  Eastern  North  America  no  equivalent  to 
the  European  Ihiloicu,^  pinai^fri.  A  second  species  of  Afreus 
probably  occurs  in  Cuba,  described  bv  myself,  but  I  have 
now  no  types  to  compare. 


*)  I  liave  used  tor  study  larvae  of  the  European  Pinastri,  beauti- 
fully prepared  according  to  tlie  method  explained  by  Karl  Wingeluuiller 
In  his  interesting  liook:  Der  Kivfer-  und  Sthnietterlings-Saniniler,  Magde- 
burg. Croutz'scho  Verlagshandlung. 

6 


•^fmrmsmmK 


«■! 


42 


EMeiiia.     CUemens. 

Head  small  and  somewliat  depressed,  but  not  sunken 
as  in  Snicriufhus,  wliicli  tliis  genus  approaches  in  its  Bombyci- 
form  look :  the  wings  liowever  are  entire,  Sphingiform ;  the 
tongue  is  sliort  and  membranous,  but  it  differs  in  the  j'oung 
stages  by  having  no  caudal  hoin  and  the  head  not  being  heart- 
shaped  ;  according  to  Fernald  "tlie  young  larva  has  a  round 
head  (of  amifcranfui)  but  it  changes  at  the  first  moult  to 
an  angular  form  running  up  to  a  sharj)  point  at  top."  In 
ornamentation  this  genus  differs  bj^  the  immaculate  abdomen, 
also  a  Smerinthoid  character,  but  the  pattern  of  primaries 
is  like  the  en^ueing  Sphhuiinac,  having  longitudinal  streaks 
on  the  interspaces.  \\'e  may  say  that  the  wings  are  those 
of  a  ,  ,''■">'  the  body  of  a  Smoriuthns.  A  letter  from  Dr. 
Clemens.  'hI  in  1865,  and  explaining  his  reasons  for  des- 
cribing thk,  genus,  is  before  me  as  1  noAV  write.  From  the 
first,  I  liave  kept  Klhiiia,  as  a  genus,  distinct.  From  the 
habit  of  the  larva  and  its  feeding  on  Pines,  it  has  always 
been  approached  to  Hijloiais,  but  the  immaculate  abdomen 
at  once  excludes  it,  no  less  than  the  sliort  maxillae.  It  is 
now  referred  to  the  Snierintlni/af  h\  Fernald,  but  the  larva 
does  not  seem  to  me  to  be  that  of  a  Smerinthoid  form.  I 
regret  not  to  have  material  now  before  me  and  I  am  writing 
from  old  notes  on  the  species,  which  I  have  seen,  all  but 
honihifcoiUfs  (this  from  a  figure).  It  struck  me  that  they 
were  very  near  and  jjossibly  only  variations  of  a  single  form, 
the  conifry(iyn)n  of  Abbot  a.  Smith.  Prof.  Fernald,  ai)parently 
on  Mr.  Thaxter's  authority  (a  most  excellent  one),  considers 
honiltjfroidfs  and  Harrisii  as  forms  of  one  species.  Prof. 
Fernald  further  distingui-^b^s  couifcrdrHni,  while  he  does  not 
allude  to  pincHni  of  Lintn;^',  a  New  York  species,  but,  if 
valid,  certainly  not  confined  to  New  York,  which  State  be- 
longs to  southern  New  England  so  far  as  the  Lepidopterous 
fauna  is  concerned,  its  northeastern  portion,  in  its  fauna, 
to  Eastein  Canada.  This  genus  is  evidently  of  wide  distri- 
bution and  distinctively  North  American.  For  the  present 
I  leave  further  discussion  of  the  species.  The  genus  itself 
niiglit' inaugurate   the  jtresent   group  if  my   an-angement   of 


43 


'.I 


the  family  is  retained,  but  I  prefer  to  regard  it  (with  Ere- 
(Iriinn)  as  more  related  to  Sphinx  proper;  in  any  event  it 
marks  the  approach  of  the  two  groups  Spliii/fiitHK  and 
Smcr'nithuxit'  and  thus  favors  my  idea  that  the  latter  group 
has  given  rise  to  the  former  as  well  as  to  the  ('liofrocfntipiiHh'. 
Without  material  at  hand  for  dissection.  T  am  not  willing, 
from  what  I  know  now.  to  accept  my  fiiend's  view  that 
Elh'UKi  is  a  Smerinthoid  genus.  The  central  position  I  give 
the  Smer'nitliiiuic,  expresses  my  idea  that  the  other  groups 
may  have  arisen  from  its  ancestors:  while  at  present  its 
members  are  on  the  whole  perhaps  nearer  the  (.'hocrovampinac 
than  the  Sphiiujinac 

Sphinx.     Linn. 

The  tyjie  of  this  genus  is  originally  held  liy  me  to  he 
the  Euro])ean  >'.  liffiisfri,  and  hence  the  genus  is  synonymous 
with  Lf(lii((  of  Hubner.  The  head  is  prominent :  tongue 
about  as  long  as  the  body :  pali)i  moderate ;  general  tbrm 
slighter  than  in  P/iJcf/ff/ioittiKs.  Abdomen  tapei'ing  to  a 
point,  banded  and  marked  with  white,  less  prominently  nuirked 
than  in  Fhlcf/cfhoHfiiis;  Larrae  smooth,  with  ovate  head, 
caudal  horn  usually  straight  and  pointed:  juipn  in  the  ground, 
tlight  generally  crepuscular.  This  genus  contains  i)erhaps 
the  typical  species  of  the  family,  but  not  the  highest  in 
structure  and  habit.  The  more  compact  sha[»e,  diurnal  tlight, 
and  surface  pupation  of  M(icro<ih>ssinac  and  Cltof'ror(ni>))iif(i)'  seem 
to  accord  them  this  position.  The  European  S.  lif/n.-^lri  has 
a  sutfused  roseate  tint  reminding  one  of  the  rosy  species  of 
Pli/('(/('fli<ii//iiis:  none  of  (mr  species  have  this,  but  hi.^vilinsd 
in  one  sex  at  least,  has  a  decided  yellowish  tinge.  The 
value  of  the  genus  encreases  in  North  America,  the  species 
being  comparatively  numerous  and  the  ^^'est  producing  forms 
of  snuill  size  but  great  beauty,  as  the  well  known  S.  FAsa 
of  Strecker.  'J'he  intersi)aceal  black  da^iiHs  on  primaries 
constitute  the  tvpical  ornamentati>  n  of  this  subfanulv. 


Abb.    a.    Sm.      Head    and    thorax 


I>riii»iferaruiii. 

I 
meeting  in  front  over  the  tips  of  the  palpi;   fore 


lack    with    a    light    gray    stripe    along    the    side 

wings  dark 


fi 


■Hi 


r 


44 


brown,  with  the  costa  striped  with  light  gray  and  the  outer 
border  of  same  shade,  crossed  bj^  oblique  blackish  wavy  lines, 
while  there  is  a  series  of  interspaceal  subterminal  black 
dashes,  the  discal  spot  itself  being  a  fine  black  line ;  the 
hindwi:  gs  are  dark  brown,  whitish  at  base,  having  also  a 
narrow  wliitish  median  stripe  and  pale  border;  fringes  brownish. 
A  connnon  species.  Canada  southwardly.  Larva  on  Plum, 
Apple  and  several  smaller  shrubs  such  as  Privet  and  Lilac, 
May,  August. 

Kaliiiint'.  Abb.  a.  Sm.  Much  shaded  with  bright 
brown  and  ditfering  in  color  from  the  other  species ;  thorax 
chestnut  brown  with  yellowish  side  stripe;  forewings  pale 
yellowish  brown  shaded  and  marked  with  chestnut  brown 
as  in  the  other  species ;  fringes  checkered  rusty  brown  and 
whitish.  Less  common  than  preceding.  Larva,  besides 
Kah^iia,  feeds  on  Ash  and  several  sorts  of  shrubs.  Canada 
southwardly.  May,  August.  These  two  agree  in  form  and 
si/e  .lost  nearly  with  the  European  tj'pe  of  the  genus 
S.  liyHstri. 

CliersiK.  Hiibn.  {Cinerca  Harr.).  Ash  gray,  a  little 
larger  than  the  other  species,  with  the  interspaceal  dashes 
on  primaries  contrasting ;  hindwings  pale  gray  \\ith  brownish 
median  and  terminal  bands.  Larva  on  Ash  and  various 
shrubs.  Not  common.  Canada  southwardly.  This  species 
has  a  more  Northern  range.     June,  July. 

€aiia<leii»iis.  Boisd.  {Vlota  Streck.).  Smaller  than 
the  preceding,  of  a  light  brownish  gray,  forewings  crossed 
by  several  incomplete  oblique  lines,  and  witli  distinct  inter- 
spaceal dashes,  a  subterminal  black  line  edged  with  wliitish 
extends  nearly  to  the  apex,  followed  by  another  within ; 
hindwings  pale  gray  with  a  spot  at  base  and  a  central  and 
subterminal  brownish  band.  Still  more  Northern  than  Chersis 
(to  w'hich  it  is  somewhat  closely  allied)  in  its  range.  lAirva- 
according  to  Thaxter,  probably  on  llulus,  and  Vaccinunn. 
Not  connnon.    Canada,  Newfoundland,  Maine.    June,  July. 

laiiieitioiva.  Clem.  This  rare  species  is  gray  with 
the  hind  wings  and  abdomen  suffused  with  yellowish  in  the 


45 


V 


males  (this  brighter  tint  appearing  somewhat  as  tlie  roseate 
in  Jifpisiri) ;  head  above  and  tliorax  bhick :  forewings  pale 
brown  with  the  margins  dull  blaekisli ;  veins  niarkad  with 
black ;  the  white  discal  dot  has  a  line  attached,  double  at 
first;  fringes  black:  hindwings  gray  witii  a  broad  Terminal 
black  border  and  faint  median  band ;  fringes  pale ;  beneath 
also  yellowish  in  nuile,  gray  in  the  opposite  sex.  Lana 
on  Willow  (Hulst).  Canada  to  Middle  States.  This  is 
probably  our  rarest  Hawk  Moth  of  these  kinds.  })roper  to 
the  Middle  States.  Related  in  markings  to  succeeding  species. 
The  yellow  suffusion  of  the  male  is  most  curious. 

CliorcliiiN.  Cram.  Gray;  forewings  clouded  with  dull 
brownish  or  blackish ;  discal  spot  small,  white  and  triangular, 
two  fine  lines  emerging  from  it  crossing  the  cell  and  uniting; 
veins  more  or  less  marked  with  black :  a  regular  sei'ies  of 
interspaceal  dashes,  the  upper  forming  apical  streak:  fringes 
whitish,  cut  with  brown:  hindwings  whitish  with  blackish 
borders  and  central  band ;  fringes  white.  TMrrn  on  Api)le, 
Ash,  etc.  Quite  common.  Canada  southwardly.  Related  to 
Luscitioso,  but  a  little  stouter.  So  far  the  species  here 
cited  are  related  in  pairs;  the  smaller  forms  of  Spltiux  are 
(see  my  paper  in  Silliman's  Journal)  an  American  expansion 
of  the  genus. 

EreiiiitiiN.  Hiibn.  Forewings  brownisli  gray,  with  a 
white  discal  spot  set  in  a  black  dash,  crossed  by  blackish 
shade  bands  in  pairs  and  with  the  interspaceal  dashes  maiked; 
hind  wings  white  with  a  black  basal  spot  and  a  median  and 
broad  terminal  band.  TAin<i  on  Spearmint  and  Salria.  Canada, 
southwardly.  Not  common.  I  do  not  find  any  grounds  for 
separating  this  generically  and  have  referred  it  to  this  genus 
in  my  Lists;  I.<ii||;eiiN  A^'alk.,  from  the  West  is  an  allied 
species. 

l>iloplioiiota.     Burm. 

The  form  is  that  of  Sjihii/.r  [LHhia  of  Hiibner)  but  is 
slenderer  yet,  the  wings  sharp  at  tips,  abdomen  longer,  more 
gradually  pointed.  The  thorax  is  bicrested,  rounded  in  front, 
not  so  square   as   in   the    allied  genus  hognathius  of  Felder. 


..^-iui  ~^-«»^J4..._Ui 


4() 


From  tlic  colors  and  baiuled  alxlonieii,  I  follow  these  insects 
with  the  tiiial  siibtaniily  Ac/irrottfii/ac,  not  found  in  Nortli 
America. 

Kilo.  Tiinn.  '"The  Wanderin*]^  Hawk."  Light  p^ray, 
the  female  darker,  hind  wings  russet,  ab(h)meu  banded  with 
black.  Breeds  in  the  extreme  South,  West  Indies  and  Mexico. 
A  wanderer  in  the  North,  whicli  it  i caches  in  the  Fall. 

Kt'iiiarkM. 

As  I  have  elsewhere  pointed  out  the  Macroglossians 
with  angulatcd  wings  form  a  subgroup,  leading  to  the  (!lioero- 
cami»ians.  The  typical  subfamily  contains  JLnxois,  ArJhipofi, 
Li'piscsia,  3I((rro(/!of<s(i  and  allies,  with  even  wings.  My 
(dassitication  is  based  on  natural  (diaracters,  and  no  scientific 
i-easons  have  been  brought  forward  by  any  dissident.  It  has 
been  said  that  a  certain  (dass  of  nunds  ditter  mainly  to 
differ  and.  in  the  arrangement  of  such  delicate  animals,  the 
range  of  untrained  oi)inion  has  been  found  to  be  wide. 

(Considering,  as  I  do,  that  the  Sjthinf/idac  may  have 
been  evolved  from  the  ancestors  of  the  ('crahra^iphnic,  I 
regard  the  subterraneous  pupation,  without  silk,  as  a  low 
or  derivative  character,  together  with  the  crepuscular  or 
nocturnal  flight.  On  the  other  hand  the  surface  pupation, 
the  use  of  silken  threads,  the  diurnal  flight,  as  an  api)roa(di 
to  the  Hcsiwr'nlac.  The  surface  i)upation  of  tropical  SpJiiiHiiiiar 
nuist  be  studied  in  connection  with  terrestrial  conditions. 
There  is  a  slight  resend)lance  in  the  larvae  between  the 
Pai>iJi(>i/ii/nc  and  (liocrocanipiiKiv. 

The  generally  smooth  larvae  show  exceptionally  thoracic 
crests,  as  in  Tripfonoii  and  ('crdfoniia.  genera  accordingly 
related;  and  this  would  be  a  i-etained  character,  recalling 
Juiclcs  ii)ii)i>ri(ilis'.  The  rough,  shagreened  skin  of  the  p]yed 
Hawks  in  also  prol)ably  a  modified  survival.  The  proofs 
that  the  passage  to  the  Si>hi)i(/i<l(H'  has  been  through  what 
we  now  regard  as  older  forms  of  Bombyces,  are  thus  many 
and,  if  we  place  this  family  at  the  head  of  the  Moths,  it 
is  not  that  it  has  real  affinities  with  Castnia,  which  lias 
probably  a  different  immediate  origin. 


47 


The  Spliiuriidao.  have  their  metropolis  in  the  tropins,  not 
snited  in  their  habits  to  the  cohl  of  liigli  hititudes:  the 
Eastern  portion  of  onr  continent  is  snbject  to  the  advent  of 
occasional  visitors  coming  on  the  snmmer  winds  from  the 
West  Indies  and  Florida.  Among  there  occasional  visitors 
may  be  cited  Adhipus  tifau  and  Uniluhis,  Arffcns  lahnisrai', 
I)ih>])]i<m()t(i  rJlo.  It  is  not  known  how  for  Sonth  our  Northern 
species  of  Smcrinthinoo,  Sphinx,  etc.,  range,  but  I  found  none 
of  them  in  Cuban  collections  and  it  is  probable  that  they 
do  not  even  reach  the  Gulf.  With  regard  to  classitication. 
the  present  is  considered  now  generally  by  Authors  a  distinct 
family.  It  seems  to  have  been  regarded  formerly  as  a  sub- 
family of  "'Sj)liiii(/(\s''\  e(iuivalent  in  value  to  the  ScsiUhn'  or 
"Clear  wings." 

Our  Hawk  ]\[oths  are  in  part  (1)  descended  from  a 
Tertiary  Arctic  fauna,  in  part  (2)  of  South  American  origin, 
while  (8)  several  forms  must  be  considered  as  stricth'  North 
American  and  as  the  direct  survivors  of  the  tertiary  fauna  of 
the  Continent.  On  these  points  various  papers  in  ■■Pa])ilio", 
"Silliman's  Journal",  etc.,  may  be  consulted.  Genera  belonging 
to  the  /?V6'/  category  are  marked,  in  the  following  list,  with  (E), 
to  the  socotid  (S),  to  the  third  (N).  These  categories  are 
provisional  and  demand  further  studies  in  this  direction,  and 
are  here  not  fully  cariied  out,  for  want  of  data.  The  food 
])lants  of  the  larvae  are  deciduous  i)lants,  shrubs  and  trees, 
except  FJJctua  which  feeds  on  pines  (('ouifcrdc).  I  have 
found  Sphinx  /laJniiap  on  plants  of]\Iountain  IjRiu'el  (K((hiiia) 
not  a  foot  in  height,  the  larva  being  much  exposed.  The 
larvae  sutler  greatly  from  the  attacks  of  IchitcKHuiiiidac: 
this  alone  prevents  certain  kinds  of  VliiJawpelxx  and  I'h/ciic- 
fhonfiii.s'  from  becoming  very  injurious.  In  the  South  the 
Catalpa  trees  are  defoliated  by  Darrmma  Oittdjiac.  but, 
strange  to  say,  the  pupae  seldom  give  the  moth.  The  pupation 
of  this  group  is  more  dangerous  to  the  individual  than  in 
the  cocoon-making  groups:  interference  with  the  larva  seeking 
pupation  seems  readily  fatal;  often  the  gr(mnd  is  not  suit- 
able and  the  roving  larva  falls  a  prey  :  these  heavy,  naked 
larvae  fall  also  victims  to  storms,  by  which  they  are  shaken 


4d 


from  the  trees  to  certain  deatli :  tlieir  tenacious  grasp  I  liave 
then  noticed  to  be  insufficient,  although  the  strength  of 
their  anal  daspers  is  very  great.  The  following  list:  may 
be  of  service  in  arranging  colhM'tions,  fiom  Canada  as  far 
south  as  the  Middle  States,  the  species  from  Texas,  Florida, 
and  the  Southei'n  States,  as  well  as  the  Californian  forms, 
may  readily  l)e  interpolated:  these  are  all  given,  to  the 
total  number  of  95,  in  my  lists  and  catalogues.  I  am  dis- 
posed to  regard  nomenclature  and  classification  absolutely 
correct,  as  far  as  my  long  experience  and  study  can  make 
them  so. 


It 

*'4 


Species  and  genera  here  discussed. 


Macroglossinae. 


Heiiiaris.    Dalm.     (E) 

tenuis.     Grote. 
(li  finis.     Boisd. 
marginal  is.     Grote. 
axillaris.     G.  a.  R. 
(fracilis.     G.  a.  R. 
fln/sbf.     Fab. 
hnfalocnsis.     G.  a.  R. 
Ijopiiiioikiia.    Grote.    (N) 
Harofasciafa.     Barnst. 

Aiiipliioii.    Hubn.    (N) 
iipssns.     Cram. 

Tliyrous.    Swains.    (N) 
ahhofii.     Swains. 

Kiiyo.     HUbn.     (S) 
hajnhris.     Linn. 

llei«laiiiia.    Clem.    (N) 
inscripta.     Hari'is. 


Choerocampinae. 

Kv«'ryx.     Boisd, 
choprilus.     Cram. 

Aiiipelopliafi^a.   Brem. 

)ni/r()n.     Cram. 
versicolor.     Harris. 

]>eiloiic>]ie.   Grote.   (S) 
lersa.     Linn. 

nefleiihila.   Ochs.    (E) 
cltamaenerii.     Harris. 
linenta.     Fab, 

PliilaiiipcliiN.    Harris. 

rids.     Drury. 
linnei.     G.  a.  R, 
posfivains.     Grote,- 
pandoras.     Hubn. 
achemon.     Drury. 


49 


m. 


(S) 


(E) 


Smerinthinae. 

<'alaN.yiiil»oliiN.  Gi .  (E) 

(i.^tifhis.     1  )nii'y. 
tiii/oj)s\     Abb.  a.  Sm. 
crritiii.     Kirby. 
</f))ii)uttiis.     Say. 

•     Faoiiiii.s.     Hiibn.     (N) 
cxrdtrahis.    Abb.  a.  Sm. 

C^iM'NMMiia.  (T.a.  R.  (N) 
jnflJamlis.     Abb.  a.  Sni. 

Trii»toK:oii.   I?rem.    (E) 
mndcsld.     Harris. 

Sphinginae. 

4'<>raloiiiia.  Harris.  (N) 
(Diiytitoy.     Hiibii.- 

l>aroiiiiiia.  Walk.    (N) 
iiiK/iilom.     Walk. 

I>ilii<lia.     a.  a.  E. 

jns)ni)/(<ini})i.  B.  a.  Lee. 


l>oll»a.     Walk.     iNj 
lii/hnu-'.     I  'niry. 

Plile{X<'tlioiitiiiK.    Iliilin. 
nisticd.     Fabr. 
varolnKi.     Tjinn. 
^^/r/^s■.      llUbll. 
cinf/Hldld.     Kabr. 

Atri'iiM.     (irotc. 
pJchcids.     Fabr. 

Klloiiia.     rii-iii.     iN) 
(■iiiiij'rrdniiii.  Abb. a.  Sm. 

Spliiiix.     IJiiu.     (Kl 
(Iniplfrrdndii.    Abb.  a.  Sm. 
hiJiiiidc.     Abb.  a.  Sm. 
chcrsis.     Hiibii. 
cddddt'Dsis.      Hoisd. 
hiscHiiisd.     ("leiii. 
(lonlids.     Cram. 
cn'iiilfds.     Hiibn. 


]>ilo|»lioiioia.  Hiirm. 
j!^//o.     Linn. 


(S) 


rris. 


r 


50 


List  of  Plant  genera, 


tlie  different  members  of  which   are  eaten  by   the  larvae  of 

Sphingidae.     The  best  time  to  find  these,  nearly  or  qnitc 

fall  grown,  is  .Inly  to  September. 


^,'N,-'  .^u^*^--^ 


1. 

Amihwchicr.     Shadbiisli. 

2fi. 

2. 

Aniprlopsis.  Virg.  Creeper. 

27. 

3. 

A.'<inii}ii(L     Pawpaw. 

28. 

4. 

Azalea.     Azalea. 

29. 

5. 

Brtula.     Birch. 

30. 

6. 

(\n-jia.     Hickory. 

31. 

7. 

Cf'phalanthas.  Biittoiibush. 

32. 

8. 

Conipfroiia.     Sweet  Fern. 

33. 

9. 

( 'rafacuns.     Hawthorn. 

34. 

10. 

IJatura.  Jamestown  weed. 

35. 

11. 

DihriUa.    Bush  Honeysuckle. 

3(). 

12. 

EpiJohiioii.    Willow  herb. 

37. 

13. 

Ilex.     Inkberry. 

38. 

14. 

JK(/Jaih^.     Walnut. 

39. 

15. 

Kahuia.  Mountain  Laurel. 

40. 

16. 

Lii/iisfnon.     Privet. 

41. 

17. 

Lifpddamhar.     Gum  tree. 

42. 

18. 

Liricdeudnm.    Tulip  tree. 

43. 

19. 

Lj/einni.    Matrimony  vine. 

44. 

20. 

Mentha.     Spearmint. 

45. 

21. 

Monanla.     Bergamot. 

46. 

22. 

Myrka.     Sweet  gale. 

47. 

23. 

Xesaeu.     Loosestrife. 

48. 

24. 

Ni/t<sa.     Sour  Gum. 

49. 

25. 

Oenothera.  Even'g.  Primrose 

50. 

Ostri/a.     Iroi  1 

J'hi/.^alis.  Ground  Cherry. 
Finits.     Pine. 
Fopnlns.     Po})lar. 
Forfnlaca.     Purslane. 
Fmnns.     Plum,  Cherry. 
Fi/n(.<:     Apple. 
Querent.     Oak. 
Fo.'.a.     Wild  Rose. 
RhIiks.     Blackberry. 
Fiiniex.     Dock. 
Salh:     Willow. 
Sahia.     Li'        'er. 
Spermacoce.         .tonweed. 
Spiraea.     Spiraea. 
Stellaria.     Chickweed. 
Sionplioricarpas.   Snowberry. 
Si/rintja.     Lilac. 

Teconia.  Trumpet  Creeper. 

TUia.     Basswood. 

Tri(Kstennini.      Feverwort. 

Uhnn,^'.     Elm. 

Vaccininm.     Blueberry. 

Vihmium.     Snowball. 

F///.S'.     Grape. 


" 


51 


Tropical  species 

I'orming  part  of  the  rolony  in  soutlu'in  Florida 


Ambulyx  sfrini/is.  — 
Diludia  hrontrs.  — 


Cautethia  urofri. 
Enyo  atnirrtns. 

da  num.  — 

Philampelu'i  poi^ticafHK.  —      '.  Amphonyx  aiitani.". 
Pachylia  _firiis.  (hqumchcl.  — 

Slices. 
Of  the  mimes  followed  by  a  dash  (  —  )  I  have  seen  no 
specimens  from  Florida;   the  sign  is  also  used  after  species 
unknown  to  me. 


Species  peculiar 

to  the  fauna  of  the  Southern  States,  not  tropical  so  far  as  known: 


Hemaris  fuscicamlis. 
iioridensis. 
Lepisesia  circme.  — 
PogOCOlon  fianrac    - 
Pachylia  hjnci'a.  — 
Daremma  Jifufenii. 
catalpne. 


Diludia  jasm'monrum. 

leucophaodta.  — 

Exedrium  haJkaruic  - 

Dilophonota  /'c>7^^  — 
oliscuni. 
cdwardsii. 


Species  found  in  the  tropics, 

breeding  also  in  the  Southern  States  and  occasionally  appearing 
in  the  North,  irregularly  or  as  wind  visitors: 


Aellopos  iita>}. 

fantnJus. 
Enyo  htfiuhris. 
Philampelus  vitis. 
linnei. 


Arg'eus  Udmiscne. 
Phleg-ethontius  rustica. 
Dilophonota  dlo. 

melanchoUca. 

'merianae. 


H-^ 


52 


Species  peculiar  to  California 

so  I'ar  as  known  to  me. 


1 


[i 


Hemaris  pal/ml i.s. 

thctis. 
Euproserpinus  pJiacfoi. 
Arctonotus  /Hcidns. 


Lepisesia  clarliicp.  — 
Smerinthus  ophtliaJmictis. 
Hyloicus  srf/Hoiai'.  — 
Sphinx  i)vr('l('(jans. 


These  coiicludiiig  pjeo<(i'ai)lii(;al  lists  will  at  least  give  a 
genornl  idea  of  tlie  distribution  of  ce'tain  forms  of  North 
American  Hawk  Moths. 


The  S/>Jii)i(ii(J((i'  are  probably  not  represented  in  Labrador. 
In  Newfoundland  >S'.  cduddoi.^is  occurs;  the  specie.^  of  the 
highest  range  to  the  north  arc;  probably  HciiKiris  iiinfurniis, 
]h'il('l>/ii/a  cl>a!)/((f')/pyii  and  Jiitca/a,  Smcrij/fhiif'  ccrisii,  Elloiui 
h(ii)ilii/('oi(J('s,  together  with  this  species  of  S/)/ii)>.r.  No  Hawk 
Moths  liy  in  Ic^'land  ;  the  tamily  ceases  t«.  exist,  ]>robably 
before  any  other  of  the  larger  families  of  Moths,  on  the  way 
to  the  Pole.  In  Upper  Canada  most  of  the  species  of  the 
Middle  States  may  be  found.  It  is  in  the  tro})ics.  under  a 
warm  sun  and  suri'ounded  by  a  various  tlora.  that  the  Hawk 
Moths  reach  their  liighest  develoi)ment  in  kinds  and  numbers. 
Our  laig'st  species  is  Anip/ioi/i/.r  ai/fih'iis,  the  smallest. 
Ei(i)roscri>'n)us  pliadinK  Our  finest  northern  form  (with  a 
wide  range)  is  Tripfotjim  iixx/rs/a,  somewhat  inapi)ositely 
named,  but  varying  greatly  in  size  and  dei>th  of  coloj'. 

Besides  tht;  si)ecial  Authors  cited,  we  are  indebted  to 
Prof.  0.  V.  Riley  for  some  ex(|uisit(^  drawings  of  lar\iU'.  to 
Prof.  Saunders  and  Roland  Thaxter  for  descriptions  of  larvae, 
while  Mr.  W"'  BeutenmUller  jr.,  has  largely  addeil  to  our 
knowledge  of  their  food  plants.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Hulst,  Prof. 
Lintner,  Mr.  S.  Lowell  Elliot  and  Mr.  S.  H.  Scudder  have  also 
made  vahuible  observations  on  their  transformations  and 
immature  stages,  w^'ile  Prof.  Alex.  Agassiz  and  J)'  Wittfeld 
have  encreased  our  information  as  to  the  species  inhabiting 
the   Florida  Peninsula. 


53 


L'Eiivoi. 


Ich  iiiriii-  ill  ili"»'in   llrxtiilifcr 
]\Iirli  liuiiz  mill  t,Mr  vorlit'icn. 
(rcethc. 


Jr.uitlicisiu  is  directly  fo'-h^rcd  in  tlic  mind  of  mnii 
tliroup'li  tlio  study  (d'  KntniiiolDjiT.  It  appeals  to  liiiii  l»y  tlie 
dis])lay  (d"  that  \\lii(di  is  lieaiititul  in  Nature  and  it  may  be 
said  that  the  worship  or  ciilt  of  Biitterliies  has  taken  I'mit 
anioup:  us.  As  su(di  it  opjtoses  the  vifw  of  Deism,  as 
an  intelh>('tuai  solution  of  the  woiid-all.  My  old  fi'iend 
Sanhoni  was  taken  to  task,  uiion  ndijiious  Lirounds,  fo;- 
C()]le('tin<i"  on  Sunday,  lie  re]tlied  to  his  interlocutor,  a  Nen' 
England  clerp-yman.  tliat  ••it  (iod  would  shut  up  his  Untter- 
flies  on  Sunday,  lu*  himself  would  not  go  out  aftei'  them.^^ 
To  Sanborn.  BmterHies  were  a  part  (d'  the  Divinity  in 
nature.  He  Wiis  a  Pantheist  and  met  the  demands  id'  the 
orthodox  Deists  by  the  creed  that  the  woods  are  (iod's  temple 
in  which  irian  seeks  the  Divinity  in  the  rnys  id'  sunlight 
glinting  across  the  green  leaves,  in  blid  and  beast  and  butter- 
Hy  and  tlower.  The  search  was  to  lii)n  always  r(digious  and 
lienee  justifiable.  This  argument  is  nnu'e  or  less  consciously 
advanced  by  all  Hnt<mii>logists.  v.lio.  as  a  body,  (dassify  tle-ir 
collections  rather  than  their  thoughts,  perhaps.  They  wl^v- 
sliip  none  the  less  fervently  at  the  Altai'  (d'  the  Hours  than 
the  believers  at  that  (d'  ihe  S;:ci'ements.  I  have  Ix-where 
dw(dt  o\\  this  subject  td'  the  latent  Pantheism  in  our  race. 
While  the  Semite  accei)ts  all  indistinguishably  from  tlie  hand 
of  the  Creator,  the  Indn-(  ierman  examines  and  arranges. 
The  (d)sei-ving  (ii'e(d<  I'oet  (daps  the  wings  (d'  the  Butterfly 
on  the  innnortal  and  beautiful  shoulders  (d'  I'sycdie  and  wings 
his  figures  of  Love  and  Death  like  Birds.  The  cult  of 
Butterflies  is  too  strong  for  sonu'  of  us.   \\  causes  Mr.  Strecker 


i  Hi 

'    .'1 


«) 


^smmmmmmmc. 


^ 


54 


■^'■ 


to  adveitise  that  lie  "covets"  speeiueiis  and  even  to  con- 
sider the  loss  of  life  on  a  Polar  Expedition  justified  in  the 
capture  of  some  rare  species.  When  Mr.  Strecker  or  Mr. 
Neumoegen  talk  in  print  about  „Science",  one  hears  them 
with  a  certain  shock,  feeling  that  this  is  not  alwaj's  the 
correct  term  to  be  applied  to  a  propensity  for  collecting 
and  naming  Butterflies. 

A  more  intimate  relationship  between  the  Sphinfjidof 
and  Bomhiicidae.  is  suggested  by  the  American  group  of  the 
CetrifocanipiHao.  Already  in  1865  I  call  attention  to  this, 
but  I  regard  it  then  as  a  matter  .:  Analogy  rather  than 
Affinity.  If  we  regard  the  larvae  of  the  ^'eratocampians, 
which  I  have  studied  and  described  in  pai,  we  see  a  loss 
of  the  spines  and  diminution  in  length  through  the  series 
Citheronia,  Anisota,  Drffocanipa.  These  three  genera  are  the 
nearer  related,  the  other  series  is  Each's,  Sphinf/icampa. 
The  larva  of  IJ.  ridticKuda  has  lost  all  but  the  fore  and 
aft  dorsal  spines;  the  Sph'uxjidao  have  become  smooth  and 
only  have  a  ridge  behind  the  head  or  the  anal  spine  repre- 
sented by  a  fleshy  horn.  I  do  not  know  the  larva  of 
Qmdrina,  which  I  placed  temporarily  at  the  head  of  the 
Ccratocamphmc.  It  is  perhaps  the  remains  of  another  old 
type  of  Boml)yces.  In  America  we  shall  have  probably  to 
do  with  remains  of  older  types  than  elsewhere  on  the  globe. 
This  I  have  already  pointed  out,  regarding  the  CWafocampituw 
as  remains  of  an  old  type  and  nearer  to  the  Hawk  Moths 
than  any  subfamily  of  the  Spinners  now  existing.  This  sub- 
family has  short  antennae  and  a  long  and  heavy  body,  a 
pupation  like  the  N<)t()d<mf'niao  and  Spliinfi'iddc,  very  bright 
colors  (piite  different  from  the  Coi^s'nmc,  but  some  JfcpialiHaa, 
which  I  separate  from  D'  Packard's  Hepinii,  are  also  very 
gaily  marked.  These  old  types  are  very  interesting  and  we 
may  briefly  allude  here  to  the  Pah'oJifs/tcridoc,  which  seem 
to  stand  between  the  Butterflies  and  Moths. 

The  genera  of  the  Cemfocmtipiuup,  leaving  Quodrina  for 
tlie  moment  out  of  tho  question,  should  be  arranged  thus : 
jrst.  Eaclea,  Adi'hci'phaJa,  Sphin<jicanipa  ;  2"'"y'  Citherouia, 
Anisota,    Dryocanipa.       The    male    and    the    caterpillar    of 


55 


Qnadriva  (liazomu  Grote,  must  botli  be  known  before  it  can 
be  placed  with  certainty.  According  to  my  friend  Mr.  Robert 
Bunker,  Ciflierouia  rajdJi,^  comes  occasionally  to  bait  after 
the  fashion  of  a  Sphinx.  The  resemblance  between  the 
American  genera  lutcJrs  and  (rrafoinia  is  pointed  out  by  me 
in  1865.  I  bring  TripttKjuH  and  Ccrutowia  together  from 
the  thoracic  'iiorns''  of  the  larvae,  resembling  each  other 
and  this  Bombycid  genus.  I  have  thus  two  i)oints  to  excuse 
my  arrangement  of  the  SnierinfJiinftr,  viz:  the  I'esemblance 
between  Anihuli/x  and  Caln.^i/ntlxjhis  at  one  end  and  Triptoiion 
and  Crrafoniia  at  the  other.  It  is  the  young  stages  which 
must  atford  us  a  guide  in  our  deductions  and.  already  in  1865, 
I  have  seen  the  importance  of  evidence  which  leads  me  to 
insist  upon  my  classitication  of  the  Sphintiidai-  today  and 
the  longer  they  are  studied.  As  to  the  importance  of  studying 
American  forms  there  can  be  no  (juestion  if,  as  I  believe, 
older  types  exist  here  than  elsewhere.  Just  as  I  believe 
the  species  of  Ba.^ilarcliia  to  be  recently  separated,  I  look 
upon  the  Palcohesperidac  as  relics  of  a  very  old  and  else 
obsolete  type  of  the  Lepidoptera.  In  the  question  of  the 
relationship  of  the  Sph'niii'uhte  and  the  Bowhifces,  the  "horn" 
of  Bouilnjx  nwri  must  be  remembered,  no  less  than  the 
distention  of  the  anterior  segments  of  this  larva  which  i-ecails 
the  Elephant  Hawk  Moths.  While  I  think  there  can  be 
no  doubt  that  the  meml)ranous  tongue  in  the  Swffhithinac 
is  a  retained  character,  the  question  is  not  so  clear  with 
EUcnin,  in  which  the  character  may  be  one  of  reversion. 

TliH  characters  of  the  Family  Vahohcspn-idac  (consult 
my  ])aper,  Can.  Ent.  173,  for  the  year  1875,  where  they 
are  first  announced)  are  as  follows;  Eyes  large  and  naked. 
No  ocelli ;  caputal  S(iuauuition  mixed  flattened  scales  and 
hair.  Antennae  capitate,  without  terminal  inflection.  Wings 
heavy,  entire.  Tibiae  and  tarsi  strongly  spinose;  hind  and 
middle  tibiae  with  terminal  claws.  Legs  stout.  The  three 
parts  of  the  body  unusually  distinct.  Form  cylindrical.  Head 
broad  in  front.  Onuunentation  uuich  like  the  Hvsprrii/oc, 
brown  an<l  yellow.  The  characters  by  which  this  Family 
is  separated   from    the  otJHU'  Butterflies,  are  taken  from  the 


s^ 


il 


50 


I 

tf 


('(isfiiiddar.  Jiesides  Yurrdr.  Feldcr  di'sciibcs  and  iigiircs  a 
Mexican  species  in  tlie  AViener  i^nt.  Monatssclirift.  In  the 
long  abdomen,  tlie  segments  distinct,  and  head  i»arts.  are 
resenibhmces  to  the  .Moths. 

Tn  my  earliest  papers  (IHlio)  on  tlie  Hawk  Motlis.  I 
have  sp(dien  of  tlie  dimoipliism  (d'tlie  cateri)illars,  J)rilrj)/iila, 
I'hictlc/l/nulius.  and  then  of  the  ampelophas'ic  o'enera.  showing 
thai  they  possessed  inditferently,  withont  regard  to  seX,  a 
green  or  brcwn  tint.  \  called  these  tints  '•cosmical",  the 
brown  being  like  that  of  the  eartk  and  the  grei'ii  like  the 
vegetation.  In  this  view  they  ai'e  i)rotectiv(\  Several 
o'reen  larvae  in  the  Hawk  .Moths  become  brownish  daring 
the  last  twenty  four  hours,  while  wandering  over  the  soil 
Ix'fore  [)Ui)ation.  This  change  in  color  takes  place  even  in 
continenuMit  over  a  wliiti'  surface.  The  origin  of  this  dimor- 
phism (dfei's  an  inviting  study :  it  occurs  in  many  Moths  and 
some  Butterflies.  in  my  writings  I  have  maintained  the 
following  theses.  That  the  lei)idopterous  fauna  of  the  sunnnit 
of  the  White  ]\rountains  {(i.-j/cis\  Larid,  Pacl/nohla  etc.)  is 
a  relic  of  the  (Jlacial  Epoch.  That  our  fauna  has  three 
liroximate  sources,  boreal  (Ei,  austral  (S)  and  indigenous 
during  tei'tiary  times  iXi.  That  certain  forms  suidi  as 
Scti/itip/i'ry.r  and  Diii/cry  /iti  have  remained  unaltered  since  the 
separation  of  the  Euro[)eiUi  and  American  faunae  by  the 
Ice  Period,  while  others,  as  ('(itoca/a  rc/ic/a.  (''t/>i)iiani<'s'fr(i 
ori'idi'i/fo.  have  bec(»nm  distinct  si)ecies.  Internu'diate  are 
those  species  which  ditier  only  in  one  stage,  and  that  mostly 
the  larval,  such  as  Aindcla  (iccidrufdHs  from  A.  /)si.  I  have 
shown  the  method  of  variation,  in  its  expression  in  tlie  perfect 
insects;  the  retention,  occasi(mally.  in  specimens  of  rrlida 
of  blue  .scales  on  the  band  proves  the  reversiim  to  the  Euro- 
\\vi\\\  fra.r'nii.  1  have  further  shown  that,  in  genera  of  Southern 
extraction,  the  area  of  suci-essful  hibei'uation  is  more  restricted 
than  that  (d'  the  sunuuer  flight  and  breeding  of  the  Moth,  as 
in  AUlia  (trijilhina,  the  ("otton  woi'm. 

.Aly  theory  (Detroit  ^[eeting.  Am.  Ass.  Aug.,  187"))  that 
the  Huttertly  fauna,  of  the  sunnnit  of  ]\[ount  Washington  is 
a  survival  from  the  Glacial  Eiioch.   etpially  with    the  theory 


i)< 


In  the 
Its,    are 

\r(.tli8.    r 
ih  jihila, 
n1  lowing 
i»  sex,  a 
il--,    the 
ike  the 
Several 
I  (Iniing 
llie  soil 
even  in 
>  (liiiior- 
>tlis  and 
ned  the 
sninniit 
ete.i  is 
IS    three 
liS"<'nons 
such    as 
inee  the 
\)\    the 
^icDtH'sIra 
ate   are 
t  mostly 
I  have 
perfect 
1"  rrlicfd 
e  Euro- 
(•nthern 
strieted 
Loth,  as 

f))  that 

igton  is 

theory 


i 


of  the  tropical  origin  of  the  Cotton  worm,  was  reached 
by  me  thnaigh  independent  studies.  The  latter  was  in  con- 
tradiction to  that  point  of  view  from  which  the  Cotton  worm 
was  treated  in  the  '-Missouri  Reports"  by  Prof.  C.  V.  iviley. 
A  subsecpient  attempt  to  deprive  me  of  originality  on  the 
discovery  of  the  ''Boston  letter'',  not  only  fails  when  the 
letter  itself  is  compared  Avith  my  observations,  but  is  without 
force  as  coming  from  Prof.  Riley,  who  was  e(iually  unaware 
of  the  existence  of  the  letter  with  myself  at  the  time  of 
reading  my  paper. 

I  have  also  shown  the  <'xistence  of  generic  groups  of 
forms  more  closely  related  than  is  usually  the  case,  such  as 
Butana,  Xwhfa,  the  European  P/i((/<  ni  and  in  our  Buttei'flies 
the  genus  Ikisilarcliiti.  It  seems  to  nie  that  the  species  in 
these  genera  present  a  certain  advanced  stage  of  distinctiveness 
when  their  interdependence  has  but  recently  ceased,  they  are 
yet  in  i)rocess  of  separation,  of  hardening-into  perfectly  distinct 
appearing  species.  T  have  called  such  generic  groups,  Fro- 
yeneni.  Sections  of  other  genera,  as  considered  by  Authors, 
show  this  peculiarity,  as  the  typical  section  of  Ht'iiiilcitca. 
I  refer  tricolor  to  JlmiilrKcd.  and  in  this  view  its  color  variation 
becomes  of  more  interest  than  when  regarded  as  a  distinct 
generic  type.  From  this  subfamily,  as  established  by  Packard, 
I  have  separated  the  J{c)nH<ii('i,.ar  and  Ceratoaniipinac,  the 
latter  the  cowwiinifontit's  of  Hiibner.  characterized  by  the 
shorter  antennae  and  heavy  bodies,  in  this  api)roachnig  the 
Cof<,^i(hu\  from  this  latter  \  sejiarated.  as  a  distinct  sub- 
family, the  llcp'udiuni'  My  Catalogue  in  the  Philosophical 
Society  gives  my  ideas  on  the  arrangment  of  these  groui)s. 
but  slightly  altered  from  Packard.  On  these  points  the 
student  should  consult  our  colored  Plates  of  Dafxtia  in  the 
sixth  Volume  of  tlie  Preceedings  of  the  Entomological  Society 
of  Philadelidiia  and  the  descriptions.  On  the  Ccratocampiuac 
consult  (irote  a.  Robinson's  paper  in  N.  Y.  Lyceum.  Also 
my  list.  Am.  Phil.  Society,  Nov.  :?0"'-.  1.S74.  and  my  jtapers 
in  the  Bulletin  of  the  United  States  (Geological  Survey.  A 
period  of  Renascence  in  American  P^ntomolugy  has  now 
passed    away.      It    is    one    hundred    years    from    Linnaeus 

8 


58 


X.  Edition  to  Clemens  (1858)  wliicli  date  I  take  as  the  com- 
mencement of  an  era  in  which  American  Lepidopterists  are 
to  catalogue  the  different  Families  of  Lepidoptera  and  lay  foun- 
dation for  present  and  future  discoveries.    Mr.  W.  H.  P^dwards 
describes   and  catalogues  our  Butterflies,    as  also  Mr.  S.  H, 
Scudder;    D'-  Clemens  writes    on  the  Sphingidac,   Tortricidac 
and    Tint'Ulaf,   D'-  Packard   on   the    Ziifiaenidao,   Jionihi/cidac 
and  Gcometridae,  I,  myself,  catalogue  the  Sphiiujidac,  yort/iidac 
and  VyrnJidae,  Mr.  C.  T.  Robinson,  besides  working  Avitli  me, 
connnences  to  figure  the  Tortricidac  and  Mr.  V.  T.  Chambers 
takes  up  the  Tineidae   afresh.     Finally  Prof.  C.  H.  Fernald 
catalogues  the   Toririciddc  and  reclassifies   them,  jMr.  Henry 
Edwards  works  up  the  Scsiidac  and,  with  the  publication  of 
my  New  Check  List  (1882),   this   Renascence   period  comes 
to  an  end.     These  are  its  principal  Authors  and  their  work. 
It   spans  the   time   from   D'-  Morris   Catalogue  to   my    New 
Check  List.     It'  has  identified  our  more  usual  forms,  arranged 
them  scientifically   and  in  correspondence  with  the  views  of 
the  best  European  writers,  besides  performing  a  great  deal  of 
original  and  enduring  work  of  its  own.    From  this  time  the  des- 
cription of  our  Butterflies  and  ]\[oths  is  undertaken  with  greater 
security  and  this  period  is  further  notable  from  the  appearance 
of  a  journal,  Papilio,    entirely   devoted   to    the   Lepidoptera. 
Above  all,   the   work  of  determining   the  private   collections 
throughout  the  country  has  been  performed  and  has  greatly 
furthered  the   interest  in  the    study.      The    first    period    of 
North  American  Lepidopterology  was  that  of  Abbot,  Boisduval, 
the  elder  Leconte,   Say,    Peck,  Harris,    Gosse,  Kirtland  and 
their  historian,  our  old  friend  1)^'-  J.  G.  Morris.     The  second 
period,  which  I  call  the  Renascence,  alluding  to  the  re-rising 
of  the  study  since  Say's  death,  has  certainly  been  a  fruitful 
one,  during  which  a  great  deal  of  work  was  performed  with 
good   humor  and   at  considerable   selfsacrifice.     It   deserves 
a  better  fate  than  that  any  of  its  workers  should  have  tli^ir 
laurels   assailed  ,by  those  who   to  day  rest  in  their  shade. 
It   is  not  that  very   many   others  do  not  materially  assist, 
but  the   writers  above  mentioned   are  those  who  performed 
the  most  work  in  the  Butterflies  and  Moths  and  whose  names 


P 


r)<> 


the  coni- 
I'ists  are 
lay  foiin- 
Edwards 
r.  S.  H. 
niricidae 
nihi/cidnc 

with  me, 
hambers 
Fernahl 
.  Hemy 
atioii  of 
I  comes 
r  work, 
ly   New 
rraiig-ed 
lews  of 
(leal  of 
;he  (les- 
greater 
earaiice 
'1  opt  cm. 
lections 
greatly 
riod    of 
sduval, 
tid  and 
second 
i-rising 
fruitful 
d  Avith 
^serves 
3  th^ir 
shade, 
assist, 
tbnued 
names 


I 


are  mure  i)articuhirly  associated  with  tlie  respective  families 
of  the  Lcp'uhptem  of  our  Nortli  American  fauna. 

As  to  English  names  for  the  Ameilcan  species  of  Hawk 
Moths,  several  liave  been  suggested  which  I  have  not  referred 
to  here.  I,  myself,  have  used  the  following  common  names: 
the  Early  Bee  Hawk,  for  Lrpisfsla  tlarnfosvidhi:  the  Blue 
and  Green  Hawk,  for  Ariims  lnl,n(s((ir  :  the  Particolored  Hawk, 
tor  Ani})i'h))ili<ui(i  versicolor :  the  Wandering  Hawk,  for  Dih- 
phonola  dh). 

Any  approach  of  the  internal  feeding  ('oss'nidc.  to  the 
Hawk  Moths  is,  I  think,  unwarranted.  In  cimsidering  the 
Splii»(/i(hi'  as  a  distinct  Family,  eijuivalent  to  the  Hi»nl>iicidae 
and  Xoctx'uUie,  special  studies,  such  as  I  have  here  attempted, 
must  decide  as  to  the  rank  of  the  component  groups  and 
this  on  similar  considerations  as  intiuence  our  separation  ot 
the  Family  itself.  In  this  action,  the  definitions  of  the  elder 
Agassiz  must  be  held  steadily  in  view  and  we  must  not 
wholly  depend  upon  a  generic  class  of  characters,  as  would 
seem  to  have  been  the  course  of  that  most  distinguished  of 
Entomologists-Lederer. 

On  the  whole  the  Subfamilies  of  Sphingidae  may  be 
regarded  as  affording  two  series,  the  first  embracing  the 
Macrof/Jossinar,  C/iocrorantpinac  and  SnirrlufhiiKw,  the  second 
the  SpJiinpiiHie  and  Achcrontuuie,  the  members  of  each  series 
approaching  each  other  more  nearly  than  the  opi)osed  series. 
Nevertheless  the  Eyed  Hawks  afford  a  synthetic  type,  the 
family  characters  recalling  the  Snwriidhiiiac  appearing  in  all 
the  groups.  So  the  Bee  Hawks  approach  through  Drulaniia 
and  tlie  genera  with  angulated  wings,  the  Elephant  Hawks 
through  AmhifJif.r.  the  Typical  Hawks  through  Ellfimi.  The 
l)attern  and  colors,  outline,  habit  and  general  structure,  so 
difficult  to  properly  consider  in  a  linear  arrangement,  are 
best  appreciated  under  the  present  classification.  The  short 
antennae  of  the  Death's  Head  Hawk  Moths  (Acliorontwae) 
seem  to  me  a  low  character;  the  pattern  and  colors,  the 
ringed  abdomen,  the  contrast  between  primaries  and  secon- 
daries  ally   this  Old  World  group   with   the  Typical  Hawk 


()0 


Moths  (Splii)/(iin<ii') :  I  liave  iiotUM'd  in  botli  a  certain  rcmi- 
nescence  of  the  Owlet  Moths  or  Xorftiiddr  (Sphin}^i(hi(!  of 
Cuba,  [){).  1—2). 

So  strong  are  the  characters  of  tlie  Bee  Jfawks 
with  angulated  or  uneven  external  margin  to  the  forewings 
(as  seen  especially  in  the  larval  stages  of  7'A//r^/^^■.  like 
J'lti/anipchis  Avliere  the  anal  horn  is  discarded  for  an  ocellus), 
that  I  have  hesitated  as  to  their  position.  But  their  general 
form  and  body  tuftings  decide  ine  that  they  are  to  be 
regarded  as  aberrant  Macrot/lossit/af,  rather  than  a  distinct 
subfamily  tyjie.  They  make  a  natural  passage  between  the 
two  subfamily  groups,  sharing  the  flight  and  habit  of  the 
one  and  ai)proaching  the  other  in  the  young  stage  and  food 
plant.  Ui)on  this  latter  characteristic,  as  it  generally  is  for 
my  ditferent  subfamily  groui)s  of  Splinxjidao,  I  lay  great 
value  as  indicating  relationship.  It  unites  the  Sphinfi'uiao 
and  the  AchcnnithKU'  and  shows  that  these  two  are  the  nearer 
related  and  form  a  series.  Everywhere  that  class  of  proofs 
which  require  the  tact  and  experience  of  a  Naturalist  to 
bring  out.  witness  for  that  general  view  of  the  classification 
of  the  Sphinfi'idao  which  I  may  speak  of  as  my  own,  so  nnich 
being  either  original  with  me  or  brought  into  new  light 
through  my  long  study  of  the  family. 

The  man  of  science  observes  the  small  changes  which 
underlie  the  endless  succession  of  life.  It  is  clear  to  him 
how  we  are  drifting  if.  with  the  rest  of  humanity,  he  does 
not  know  ivlicrr.  Witliin  certain  limits  he  believes  that  the 
will  of  man  counts  for  something  and  that,  in  the  perpetual 
struggle,  that  which  is  useful,  good  and  beautiful  shall  prevail. 
Even  in  comparatively  so  small  a  social  field  as  Entomology 
attbrds,  he  may  oppose  the  purely  selfish  action,  the  insincere 
statement,  and  try  to  correct  the  limited  exi)erience  which 
prompts  so  many  faults.  From  the  contemplation  of  nuicli 
that  i;^.  paltry  and  much  that  is  stupid  in  the  writings  and 
doings  of  Entomologists,  he  can  at  least  always  turn  for 
relief  to  Nature  herself,  standing  high  al)ove  all  the  schools 
which  strive  but  to  translate  her.  He  may  drink  in  all  the 
loveliness  of  the   world  and  refresh  his  soul  by  wanderings 


^ 


61 


in  field  and  forest,  by  expansive  lake  and  windinj;  stream. 
The  throbbing  Sea,  answering  by  its  agitation  to  the  pnlses 
of  tlie  wind,  will  excite  his  longings  and  draw  his  sonl  ont 
after  it.  And,  when  the  summer  is  past  and  the  roses,  by 
thousand  ways  and  voics,  Nature  will  still  amuse  him  until, 
tired  of  his  ([uest,  he  falls  into  the  last  slee^t  in  the  arms 
of  the  universal  mother. 

So,  by  the  Lake  at  Buffalo,  Time,  winged  with  happiness 
passed    by    and,    feigning    that    he    would    be    thus    every- 
where, lured  me  away.     The  world  is  full  of  beautiful  butter- 
flies but  those  that  fly    at  home  are  the  best.     Even  in  the 
technical  works  of  our  noted  Entomologists,  a  local    oloring 
attests   the  force    of  this  sentiment.      Thus   there  is  an  in- 
describable   Massachusetts    flavor    about    D""-  Harris's  book. 
And,  let  him  industriously  gather  eggs  and  caterpillars  from 
what  part  of  the  country  he  may,  it  is  always  as  from  West 
Virginia  that  Mr.  W.  H.  Edwards  invites  his  readers  to  the 
great  feast  of  facts.     In    some  way   the  scent  of  the  Elaine 
woods  has  got   into  Professor  Fernald's   writings:    we  seem 
to    know    the    famous    bog    in    Orono,   whereon    Ociici.^  jntta 
cumbrously  flies;    through   openings    in  the  woods   we  catch 
a   glimpse   of  warm-tinted  Spring-tide    azalea   or   shhi-bush 
blooms,  over  Avhich   the  '-Early  Bee  Hawk'-  (Lepisoia  flavo- 
fuschda)  for  an   instant  hovers  to   vanish   again.     And   the 
ridge  by  the  Lake  side  where,  of  a  June  evening,  I  caught 
the    rare    "Particolored    Hawk"    (uhnpclopliafia   rer.si color)   I 
would   also   have  remembered  out   of  my    own  experiences, 
the  Canada  shore  in  the  distance  and  all  about  me  the  lovely 
scenery  of  Western  New  York. 

Although  what  the  Poets  say  must  always  be  taken  in 
a  certain  wide  sense,  I  have  be^-n  struck  by  their  particular 
attention  to  butterflies.  Poe  declares  that  a  certain  curious 
sentiment  is  derived  from  '-the  contemplation  of  a  moth,  a 
butterfly,  a  chrysalis."  As  to  the  latter  he  may  have  been 
influenced  by  the  mere  euphony  of  the  word  itself.  Only 
an  Entomologist,  with  prophetic  soul  dreaming  on  the  glories 
to  come,  can  be  moved  by  the  sight  of  a  chrysalis.  But, 
perhaps,   I  am   wrong   here,   remembering  the  chrysalids  of 


VI 


62 


certain  butterflies,  tliose  pendant,  gold-studded  earrings  of 
Nature,  liung  by  her  in  moments  of  pride  from  trees  and 
pretty  blooming  plants.  Buds  to  open,  to  expand,  to  take 
their  flight. 

Somtimes,  now,  I  dream  of  fields  Elysian,  where,  on  beds 
of  Asi)hodel,  hang  pendulous  innnortal  butterflies,  beneath 
an  eternal  sky.  And,  coming  kindly  to  meet  me,  I  see 
Harris  and  Doubleday,  Boisduval  and  Say;  while,  with  his 
nervous  manner  all  gone,  I  find  again  Francis  Walker,  his 
good  work  all  remembered.  And  he  forgives  all  I  have  said, 
as  I  ask  his  pardon,  because  it  really  was  (and  I  have  been 
there  myself  j  very  dark  in  the  entresol  of  the  British  Museum 
where  he  had  to  work.  But  here  it  is  Light  at  last  and 
an  everlasting  Sun  is  shining. 


-^>'^^s:i?e-^t5<'<^- 


dd 


Table  of  Contents. 

PiiRe 
Dedicaticn 3 

OnTollecting-  and  Preserving-  for  the  Cabinet 5 

The  Species  of  North  American  Hawl<  Moths 15 

Classification 22 

Family  Paleohesperidae   22,  55 

Deilonche  (new  genus) 30 

Calasymbolus  geminatus  rar.  tripartitus -Hi 

Atreus  (new  genus) 41 

List  of  Species  and  genera 48 

List  of  food  plants 50 

L'Envoi 5;.}