Volume 14, Plate XXIX / Entomology (Insects)

Beautiful China Mark, Green Silver-Lines & Scarce Silver-Lines

Hydrocampa Nymphæata, Hylophila Prasinana & H. Quercana

1. The Beautiful China Mark. Measuring ten lines to an inch across, the white shining wings reticulated with dark lines, the anterior pair with two brown stripes from the base and a continuous marginal band, the posterior pair white with two brown transverse bands, the arrangement varying much in different individuals. The caterpillar, having scaly and membranous legs, feeds on aquatic plants and cuts out a portion to form its cocoon, the moth frequenting pond borders and occurring not unfrequently in England and Scotland.
2. & 3. Green Silver-Lines. Expanding somewhat more than an inch to an inch and a half, light-green, each anterior wing bearing three oblique silvery-white stripes and a white costa, the abdomen and hinder wings yellowish-white and the wings giving a bell-like outline. The light-green caterpillar, with a yellow side line and two red streaks behind, feeds on common trees, this moth not rare in England and found not unfrequently in the south of Scotland.
4. Scarce Silver-Lines. The largest insect of its group, the wings sometimes extending to two inches, the thorax and anterior wings deep grass-green traversed by two oblique white lines, the posterior wings and abdomen glossy-white and the palpi, antennae, and legs tinged with red. The caterpillar resembles the preceding but is larger with a dorsal tubercle on the second segment, frequenting various trees but most partial to the oak, this rare insect chiefly obtained near London and appearing about mid June.