D E IL E PH ILA N ECH U S ?
P la te 4 0 . fig. 1 .
S e c t io n , C r e p u s c u l a r ia , L a tr e ille .
F a m il y . S p i i in g id je , L ea ch .
G e n u s . D e il e p h i l a , Ochsenh. Sp h in x p . L in n . ^ c .
C n . Sp. D . “ alis integris : antic is viridibus ; strig a te s ta c e a ; posticis nig ris ; maculis b.iseos
fasciaque flavis.” F a b r ic , loc. c it. subtus. E x p an s . a la r. 3 | unc.
D . with th e wings entire , th e an te rio r gre en with a te sta c eo u s s tre a k , (“ with te s ta ceous
m a rk s ,” Do n o v .) th e posterior b la ck with spots a t th e b a se , and a row o f
spots n e a r th e extrem ity . E.xpanse o f th e wings 3^ inches.
S yn . S p h in x N e c h u s ? F a b r ic iu s E n t . S y s t. 3. 1. p . 377. Crame r In s . t . 1 7 8 . / . B.
The number o f Chinese species o f this genus, already described, is very limited : the
insect represented in the accompanying figures is the largest o f them ; but as this is
inferior in size to several kinds found in Europe, we conceive there must remain many
larger species o f the genus unknown to collectors o f foreign insects, and yet very common
in China. In the latter part o f Sir G. Staunton’s work, that author mentions the larva
o f a Sphinx M o th which furnish an article for the table o f the Chinese. W e regret liiat
the indefinite expression cannot assist us to determine the species, and scarcely the genus,
o f the insect alluded to.*
The specimen figured in the annexed plate was in the collection o f Mr. Francillon,
who received it from China. The habitat o f D. Nechus, given by Fabricius, is America ;
and Cramer has represented a small variety o f the same species from North America.
•' E u ro p e an na tu ra lis ts a re entire ly ig n o ra n t o f th e Chinese insects in th e s ta te o f la rv a an d p u p a , if we
e x c ep t a few species o f th e Cimices, Cic ad a , a n d some a lto g e th e r un in te re stin g insects, th a t have be en accid
en ta lly b ro u g h t am o n g othei-s from th a t c o u n try . H enc e it m u s t remain un d e te rm in ed w h e th e r th ey corre spond
in form with th o s e of o th e r p a rts o f tlie world. I t is, however, h ighly p robable , from th e ir g re a t affinity to
those in th e p e rfe c t s ta te , th a t in th e s ta te o f la rva they may also agree. T h e extensive collection o f th e larvæ
o f sphinges m ad e b y M r. Ab b o t in N o rth America affords no s ingula rly co n s tru c ted animal distin c t from those
found in E u ro p e ; th ey va ry inde ed in th e ir colours, b u t preserve u n ifonnly th e ch a ra c te rs found on th e same
gen u s in o th e r countrie s. W e n otic ed am ong th e drawings o f th e la te Mr. Bradshaw th e figure o f a Chinese
sp h in x , ap p a re n tly S. H y la s , to g e th e r with a la rv a similar to th a t o f th e S. Ste lla ta rum : it was gre en, an d ,
like all tlie k n own larvoe o f th e family (ex c ep t th e A d s c itæ division), was perfectly free from ha irs : it was also
furnished with a h orn a t th e poste rior p a r t o f th e body.