110 



NATURAL HISTORY. 



[CH. VI. 



from time immemorial, and is found in such abun- 

 dance over many parts of Bengal and the adjoining 

 provinces, as to have afforded to the natives a plen- 

 tiful supply of a most durable, coarse, dark-coloured 

 silk, which is woven into a kind of cloth called 

 Tusseh doothies, much worn by the Brahmins and 

 other classes of Hindoos. 



This silkworm cannot be reared as the common 

 one ; the natives therefore go out in quest of them 

 into the jungles, and find the young worms on the 

 branches of the asseen and byers trees, which the 

 natives cut off, and convey near their habitations, 

 distributing the worms on the asseen in proportion 

 to the size of the trees, but they place more on the 

 byers, and employ the Pariahs to guard them day 

 and night, to preserve them from birds and bats. 



The eggs of this species are white, and are 

 hatched according to the temperature of the air; 

 in two or three weeks, however, the w^orms have 

 nearly acquired their full size, which is above four 

 inches in length and three in circumference ; their 

 colours are light green, with a light yellowish-col- 

 oured stripe on each side ; the sixth and seventh 

 rings are marked with an oblong gold spot; the 

 back is also marked with a few round darker col- 



FlG. 



Fig. 2. 



