Ad99998 04 030a/eng
Schmetterlinge
Beschreibungstext eng
Insects XXIII. Vol. IV. No. 28., BUTTER FLIES., II. The Sphinx or Hawk-Moths., 1 he Sphinx or Hawk-Moths, of which at present 165 species ave known, are the fécond Class of Butteiflies. Tlieir wings are longer tlian those of the day butterflies and are deflexed wlien the infect is at reft. Their body is also stronger and their antennae are thick in the middle and somewhat tapering towards the point. It is onîy at day break, and during tvviligbt tliat they flutter about to fuck witli their fnout the honey juice of flowers continually humming and foaring in the air. During day time they reft quietîy and inactif on trees and walls. The caterpillars of this Class are large, beautifully pencilled, and provided with a kind of horn upon the ta il. Their transformation happens generally in the earth where the black or brown Chrvfalis l fallu darauti» remains the whole winter. In the following fpring the Butterfly appears. In. the annexed picture we are madeacquainted with two beautiful species of this Class along with their caterpillars and Chryfalis in their natural size., Fig. 1. The Death-Head. (Sphinx Atropos.), The Death-Head QA) is the largest species of this Class; it occurs in many parts of Germany, but is properly a native of Africa andAmelica; it is only known in Europe fince the introduction of potatoes; and the blue and yellowftriped caterpillars ÇB~) delight to fearch for their nourishment on the potatoe-herb where they generally are found in August and September, though they sometimes are also met with on Jasmin and Carrots. They change into the red brown Chryfalis (C) which paffes the winter under ground. This Butterfly was in former times a frightful animal to common people. The yellowish drawing on its breast was generally taken for a Death-head; its fluttering about in the middle of the night, and its noify humming, together with the plaintif tune which the rubbing of its hard breast-shields produces, were fufficient reafons to make people believe, that this innoxious infect was the harbinger of illness and misfortune and the fore*runner of plague, war, and famine. Indeed a ridiculous fable!, Fig. 2. The eyed Hawk-Moth. (Sphinx ocellata.), The Caterpillar (b~) is yellow green, mar» ked by a quantity of white stripes dispofed in a transverse direction. It is frequently found on willows and lime-^trees, on alders, oaks and beeches from which it is eaßly shaken off. The Caterpillar changes under ground, into a black Chryfalis (c). The superior wings of this Butterfly Ça) are marbled with red and grey, and edged in a finuous form. The inferior wings are of a pink colour, marked with eyes of blue and black.
