240 BRITISH BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS 



male, and from her duller colouring less frequently 

 attracts our attention. 



FAMILY IX. HYDROCAMPID^. 



HTDROGAMPA NTMPRMATA. THE BROWN 

 CHINA-MARK. 



This prettily marked species is very common, and 

 generally distributed throughout the country. 



The expansion of the wings is about an inch. The 

 fore-wings are pale brownish, with three conspicuous 

 white blotches edged with dark brown ; two of these 

 blotches are placed near the costa nearly in the position 

 of the orbicular and reniform stigmata in the Noctuina ; 

 the third blotch is situated below the first one ; a white 

 streak precedes the yellow hind margin, but is inter- 

 sected by dark dashes at each of the veins ; the hind- 

 wings are white with a central ear-shaped pale brown 

 spot, edged with dark brown ; between this and the base 

 are two transverse dark brown lines, and beyond it is 

 first a transverse dark brown line, then a brown band of 

 variable width, from which some teeth project towards 

 the yellow hind margin. 



The larva is dull yellowish-white, with a brownish 

 tinge on the anterior segment ; it feeds in April and 

 May on the leaves of water-lilies and Potamogeton, con- 

 structing a flat case. 



The perfect insect appears in June and July, and may 

 often be met with in considerable plenty in the vicinity 

 of ponds and streams. 



The closely allied Beautiful China-Mark (H. stagnata) 

 has a much neater look ; it is readily distinguished by 



