Fig. 5.—The Caterpillar of the Elephant Hawk-Moth (Chærocampa elpenor). Second Stage.
Fig. 6.—The Caterpillar of the Elephant Hawk-Moth (Chærocampa elpenor). Just before the second moult.
Fig. 7.—The Caterpillar of the Elephant Hawk-Moth (Chærocampa elpenor). Third Stage.
After five or six days, and when they are about a quarter of an inch in length, they go through their first moult. In their second stage ([Fig. 5]), they have two white lines, stretching along the body from the horn to the head; and after a few days ([Fig. 6]), but not at first, traces of the eye-spots appear on the fourth and fifth segments, shown by a slight wave in the upper line. After another five or six days, and when about half an inch in length, our caterpillars moult again. In their third stage ([Fig. 7]), the commencement of the eye-spots is more marked, while, on the contrary, the lower longitudinal line has disappeared. After another moult ([Fig. 8]), the eye-spots are still more distinct, the white gradually becomes surrounded by a black line, while in the next stage ([Fig. 9]) the centre becomes somewhat violet. The white lines have almost or entirely disappeared, and in some specimens faint diagonal lines make their appearance. Some few assume a brownish tint, but not many. A fourth moult takes place in seven or eight days, and when the caterpillars are about an inch and a half in length. Now, the difference shows itself still more between the two varieties, some remaining green, while the majority become brown. The eye-spots are more marked, and the pupil more distinct, the diagonal lines plainer, while the white line is only indicated on the first three, and on the eleventh segment. The last stage ([Fig. 9]) has been already described.
