| Pl. 17. |
| Elephant Hawk-moth. |
| Egg, natural size and enlarged; caterpillar and chrysalis. |
It feeds on vine (Vitis vinifera) and yellow bedstraw (Galium verum); also on fuchsia and virginia-creeper (Ampelopsis). August and September are given as months for this caterpillar, but the Newmarket and Epping examples referred to were taken in October.
The moth seems to visit us chiefly in September and October. It does not appear to have been so often taken at flowers as at light, or when resting by day, on a wall or window of a dwelling house or shop, to which it had been attracted at night by the illumination within. The species has a wide range through Africa and Southern Asia to Java, Borneo, and Australia. In Europe it is perhaps only native in southern parts; thence it sometimes wanders through Central Europe to Germany and Holland. The specimens visiting our islands may come from the latter country, or possibly in years of comparative plenty the moths come to us viâ the west coast of Europe.
The Oleander Hawk-moth (Daphnis (Chærocampa) nerii).
The forewings of this handsome moth (Plate [16]) are pinkish grey, marbled with various shades of green and olive brown; some of the marbling edged with white. Hind wings greyish
brown shaded with greenish, with a whitish, waved cross line. The colours of the head, thorax, and body are similar to those of the wings.
Fig. 18.
Chrysalis of Oleander-Moth.