8 4 



SILKWORMS. 



colour is pale drab, and it is not nearly so glossy as that produced 

 by the common silkworm, at least when reeled by the natives in 

 India. It is possible, however, by using more care in its prepara- 

 tion greatly to increase the gloss. 



Another Indian insect, much like the Tusser Moth, and about 

 the same size, is called the Moonga, or Muga, and scientifically 

 Anthercca Assama, because Assam is its chief home. It forms a 

 large, pale yellowish-brown, somewhat oval cocoon, which has 

 not hard walls like the Tusser, but is yielding and flexible. It 

 feeds on a variety of trees, and no less than five broods make 



Fig. 26. Japanese Silk M.ot\\(Antkereea Yaina-mai). 



their appearance in the course of the year. The silk is most 

 brilliant, and only about half the thickness of Tusser silk. The 

 rearing of this insect in India ranks next in importance to that of 

 the Tusser. 



A smaller insect, with much less conspicuous eyes on the wings 

 than the Tusser, though similar in colour, is found in Mantchouria, 

 the north-east district of the Chinese Empire. It is the Chinese 

 oak-silkworm, Anthercea Pernyi (Fig. 24), and as the common 

 name implies, it feeds on oak. Being an inhabitant of more 

 temperate regions than the preceding moths, it is much more 

 easily acclimatised in Europe, and accordingly has not unfre- 

 quently been bred in this country. Mons. A. Wailly, who has 

 had great experience in rearing silk-producing Bombyces in 



