The caterpillar is yellowish or greyish, with a pale dorsal line edged with black. On each side of this is a broad black line, below which is a yellow line edged with black, then a whitish stripe, next a yellow line edged with black on the upper side, and lastly a broad brownish line, just above the spiracles, edged with black on both sides. It feeds on couch grass (_Agropyron repens_) and various other grasses, and is fully grown in May. The moth flies in July and August, and is common throughout the United Kingdom. _The Smoky Wainscot_ (_Leucania impura_) This same genus includes a number of moths, very similar in general appearance, and popularly known as the 'Wainscots.' Of these we shall take two examples. The first is the Smoky Wainscot, so called from the dark smoky tint of the hind wings. Its fore wings are wainscot brown, with lighter rays; and they each have three black dots arranged in the form of a triangle, one in the centre, and the other two between this and the hind margin. [Illustration: FIG. 143.--THE SMOKY WAINSCOT.] The caterpillar is yellowish, with a fine white line down the back. The spiracles are red, and inclosed in black rings. It feeds on sedges (_Carex_) from March to May. The moth is on the wing from June to August. _The Common Wainscot_ (_Leucania pallens_) This moth is very much like the last. The fore wings exhibit the same three dots, but it may be distinguished by the pale colour of the hind wings. [Illustration: FIG. 144.--THE COMMON WAINSCOT.] The larva feeds on various grasses in March and April. It is of a pinkish grey colour, with two rows of black dots on each side of the dorsal line. There are also three stripes along the side, two of which are brownish and the other grey. The moth is common everywhere from June to August. _The Bullrush_ (_Nonagria arundinis_) Our last example of this family is the Bullrush, a moth that is common in all parts where its food plant abounds. It is much larger than the two preceding species. The fore wings are yellowish brown, with three parallel transverse lines of black spots. The hind wings are whitish, tinged with brown near the hind margin. [Illustration: FIG. 145.--THE BULLRUSH.] The caterpillar is of a dull pinkish colour, with a shining brownish plate on the second segment. The spiracles are black. It feeds inside the stems of the reed-mace (_Typha latifolia_), and changes to a chrysalis within the gallery it has excavated, after making a hole through which it can escape when it attains the perfect form. The caterpillar may be found in May and June, the chrysalis in August, and the moth in September. Family--APAMEIDAE This large family contains no less than forty-four British species, many of which are exceedingly common; and of the others only about half a dozen can be regarded as rare.