WILD SILKWORMS. 87 



packet, and undertook the charge of carrying these eggs to Europe. 

 This was by no means an easy matter on board a steamship in 

 the Tropics. If the eggs were kept in the cabin, a great risk of 

 their premature hatching was incurred, for the temperature there 

 in the month of November is above 95 R, and in the Red Sea 

 105 and more. I followed the advice of M. Simon, and placed 

 the eggs in an ice-box on board ship, though often but little ice 

 was therein. To this precaution is due, in a great measure, their 

 safe arrival in Europe in good condition. I arrived at the Hague 

 early in January 1863, and at once sent out the eggs. The 

 greater part were sent to the French Government and to the 

 Imperial Society of Acclimatisation, according to the promise I 

 had made to my friend M. Simon." In this way the insect was 

 introduced into Europe, and since then it has been cultivated in 

 several parts. 



The moths appear in August, and soon lay their eggs, which do 

 not hatch till the following April or May ; as the hatching depends 

 on temperature, of course in warmer climates it takes place earlier. 

 The caterpillar, like those of the rest of the genus, is a big green 

 creature. Mr. Wailly gives the following directions for rearing 

 this and other species of silk-producing Bombyces. For the 

 newly hatched lame, obtain large bell glasses, having some open 

 ings in the dome, for ventilation's sake, and invert these over 

 saucers full of sand covered with a piece of paper. The food is 

 supplied, not as separate leaves, as we should to the ordinary silk- 

 worm, but in the form of small branches, and these are stuck 

 through the paper into the sand, which serves to keep them fresh. 

 Of course the glasses must not be placed in the sun. One 

 advantage of the paper is that the droppings can be removed by 

 simply blowing them off. When the caterpillars are old enough, 

 they may be transferred to larger branches placed in bottles or 

 jars of water, in such a way that they may not fall in and be 

 drowned. Here they may be left till they form their cocoons, 

 fresh food being supplied as occasion may require. If they have 

 a sufficient supply of nice fresh food, they will not show much 

 inclination to wander. The branches used when they are plunged 

 into the water must be long, else the leaves will become too 

 watery, and injure the larvae : they should also be cut from the 

 trees in the evening, and not when the sun is shining on them. 

 By June the larvae may be placed in the open air, in shady and 

 not too dry places. 



Three species of oak-feeding silkworms have already been 

 enumerated, but there is yet a fourth, called Telea Polyphemus 

 (Fig 29). For this insect we must travel to the United States. 



