the Tiisseh and Arrindy Silk-Worms of Bengal. 4.') 
Tiiis insect, known to tfye Hindoos by the name of Arrindy in 
some parts, in others Arundi, appears to be peculiar to the interior 
parts of Bengal ; and, so far as I can learn, to two districts only, 
viz. Dinagepore and Rungpore, where the natives hived and rear 
it in a domestic state, as they do the common silk-worm. The 
food of the caterpillar consists entirely of the leaves of the com- 
mon Ricinus, or PalmaChristi, which the natives of these districts 
call Arrindy (hence the name of the insect), and is abundantly 
reared over every part of India, on account of the oil obtained 
from the seed. Feeding these caterpillars with its leaves will, 
therefore, make it doubly valuable where they know how to spin 
and manufacture the silk. 
The late Sir William Jones mentions this animal, in a letter to 
Dr. Anderson, dated 17th May 1791, under the name of Phalana 
JXiciniy a name that I cannot well continue for fear of confound- 
ing it with Fabricius's Bombyx llicini ; which is certainly a very- 
different species. 
Description of the insects through their various stages. 
Eggs numerous, ovate, pure white; size of a pretty large pin's 
head. Hatch in from ten to fifteen days, according to the tem- 
perature of the air. 
Larv;e arrive at their full size, which is from two and a half to 
three inches, in the space of about one month; during which 
time they, like the caterpillars of the common silk-worm, cast 
their skin three or four times. They are also composed of ten 
segments ; across the middle of each are several small, soft, 
conic-pointed tubercles ; otherwise they are smooth and deli- 
cately soft. The prevailing colour pale or sea green. In this 
<tate they are very voracious, devouring daily many times the ir 
c. 2 own 
