by William Swainson

“ Wings hyaline, clouded with irregular waved bars of blue; body, thorax, and macular band round the margin of the inferior wings, orange.
The diurnal or Heliconean Hawk-mouths, form one of the most natural and remarkable groups among Lepidopterous insects. They fly during the heat of the day; and, (as representing in their own family the tribe of Phalænides) they have much of the general appearances of moths. In their slow flight, long transparent wings, and proneness to imitate death on being handled, they afford a most beautiful analogy to the Heliconian Butterflys. ”

“ Both have their chief metropolis in equinoctial America, and both find their prototypes in the lovely family of Erycinidæ. It is really surprizing that searchers after the natural system, should have overlooked such a group. ”