SILK-PKODUCING INSECTS. 27 



than that of the common silkworm, and of a darker 

 colour. With it are clothed one hundred and twenty 

 millions of Chinese, Brahmins, etc., and it would 

 doubtless be useful to the inhabitants of the New 

 World and the South of Europe, where a light, cool 

 and at the same time cheap and durable dress is 

 much wanted. Garments made of tussah silk will 

 wear, when in constant use, for ten or twelve years. 

 Tussah silk is also produced by another species 

 of Asiatic moth, Bombyx Mylitta, which has lately 

 been successfully reared in France by M. Guerin 

 Menneville, at Paris, and also at Lausanne. Its 

 leather-like cocoons are composed of silk so strong 

 that a single fibre will support, without breaking, a 

 weight of one hundred and ninety-eight grains. It 

 also feeds upon a great variety of leaves, among 

 others upon oak leaves. The eggs of this moth have 

 been known to hatch in Siberia before the appear- 

 ance of leaves upon the oak tree. The only way or 

 preventing the larvae from starving in such cases, 

 is to cut branches from the oak and place them in 

 vessels of water. The leaves are thus made to shoot 

 out quickly, and the grubs are fed upon them until 

 the oak tree is covered with foliage. The natural 

 enemies of these larvae are birds, bats, ants, some 

 species of frog, serpents, and foxes, who enjoy 

 them exceedingly.* 



* The fox will also eat beetles, and attack bees' nests for honey. 



