Volume I Part 25 (1/2)

The tail is very long, measuring eight inches three quarters; the total length of the bird being near fifteen inches. The green which predominates over the plumage is bright and changeable, having a blueish tinge on the hind head, which is much darker and stronger on the outer margins of the quills and middle of the tail-feathers: the back and scapulars are tinged with an olive-brown; the spurious quills and their protecting covers are greenish-blue, appearing in some lights entirely of the latter colour; the inner margin of the quills and tail, as well as their entire under surface, deep brownish-black; but the tips of the tail-feathers beneath are much paler; the two middle feathers five inches longer than the outermost, and extending near two inches beyond any of the others; their extremities instead of being pointed are rather widened and rounded. Bill red; ears and s.p.a.ce between the eye and bill green; fore-part of the head, chin, and half the neck, a clear orange-yellow, which is terminated by a narrow collar of a beautiful orange-red; the remaining under plumage pale-green; inner wing-covers darker. Legs black. The fourth, fifth and sixth quills notched at their tips.

Pl. 60

[Ill.u.s.tration]

THYREUS Abbottii.

GENERIC CHARACTER.

(_Familia Sphingidis_ Latreille.)

_Antennae lineares, in medio incra.s.satae, in maribus extrinsecus ciliatae, (sub-barbatae) in foeminis simplices, filiformes, mucrone obtuso arcuato sensim terminantes. Palpi breves, obtusi, in utroque s.e.xu similes. Alae opacae, angulatae. Abdomen cra.s.sum, barbatum._

Antennae linear, thickened in the middle, externally ciliated in the male, simple and filiform in the female, gradually ending in an arcuated, obtuse hook. Palpi short, obtuse, alike in both s.e.xes. Wings opaque, angulated. Abdomen thick, bearded.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

_T. alis angulatis, anticis testaceis, fusco umbratis et oblique lineatis; posticis flavis, margine lato nigro._

T. Wings angulated; anterior testaceous, with lineated brown shades and oblique lines; posterior yellow, with a broad black border.

A lovely insect, which is unfigured, and, as far as we can ascertain, undescribed by any author. It appertains to the Linnaean genus _Sphinx_, which can be viewed (from the immense diversity and great number of the species) only as a family containing many and striking natural genera: in modern arrangement it is most nearly allied to the _Sesiae_ of Fabricius, from which, as it strikingly differs in the formation of the palpi and antennae, I have separated it.

I have named this insect to commemorate the exertions of Mr. Abbott, well known as having furnished the materials for that beautiful work the Lepidopterous Insects of Georgia, edited by Sir James Edward Smith. And from the unpublished drawings of this zealous collector, the larva and pupa have been figured. Mr. Abbott writes that it is a rare species in Georgia, and feeds on the grape. The female differs not in colour from the male, which is here represented.

Pl. 61

[Ill.u.s.tration]

TAMYRIS Nurscia.

GENERIC CHARACTER.--See Pl. 33.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

_T. alis nigris, anticis supra fascia centrali rufescente, infra punctis duobus ad basim albidis; posticis infra caesiis, cinereis, basi nigris linea obsoleta albida; margine nigro._