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1 gn [December, 



rated " there, but in a peculiar way. They have domesticated species, viz., Bomhyx 

 textor and Croesi ("Pat"), AnthercBa aassama ("Muga"), and Attacus ricini 

 ("Eri"). The two latter appear to be the most promising. It is recommended 

 that the cocoons be exported, and not the thread. " Pat " seems to be a near rela- 

 tive of the ordinary mulberry silkworm, whereas the others are " tusser." The 

 enemies, diseases, &c., to which larvae in Europe are subject appear to be equally 

 present in Assam, and there are rats in addition. It is stated, with regard to 

 " Eri," that the number of moults is four, that eight broods can be obtained in a 

 year, and that the minimum life-cycle from egg to oviposition may be only 43 days 

 (the maximum is given as 83 days). With " Muga " it is somewhat different. Five 

 broods are recognised by vernacular names, and the minimum and maximum are 54 

 and 81 days respectively. 



There are also about ten " wild " species of silkworms, some of which are pro- 

 bably only the original condition of the domesticated races ; but others are totally 

 different, and these are mentioned as of little importance ; nevertheless, the silk is 

 occasionally used for purposes of adulteration. 



The empty cocoons of Anthertea Paphia (if correctly determined, the vernacular ^ 

 name for the form is " Salthi,") are utilized as tobacco, or betel, boxes, or as cups 

 for dipping oil. The pupae of this, as of all other wild silkworms, are considered 

 delicate morsels by the natives. 



Mr. Stack's Report bears the impress of being genuine in all its details. The i 

 facts are concisely stated, and no attempt is shown to generalize upon them in a 

 manner that would lead them to be suspected of being no longer facts. — Eds. 



Green larva of Ennomos autumnaria {alniaria). — On the 16th August I found, 

 between two sycamore leaves in my garden, a rather large " Thorn " larva of a green 

 colour, minutely besprinkled with white dots. 



Although a good many years have elapsed since I hredfuscantaria, I could not 

 recognise it as being the larva of that species, but as it was evidently making up for 

 pupation, I knew that a very short time would solve the riddle. 



I must own, however, that I was greatly surprised when a finely coloured male 

 Ennomos autumnaria emerged. I have reason to believe that the moths bred by 

 Messrs. Tugwell and Davis (the latter this year) were all from stick-like brown larvae. 



Autumnaria is evidently well established in this neighbourhood ; I have had 

 wild specimens every year since I came. It is, I am almost sure, attached to syca- 

 more, as there is generally one of those trees near the gas lamps they have beenj 

 taken on. 



The bred specimens are better coloured and larger than those caught. Theii 

 larvfiB in confinement do very well indeed on whitethorn, and thrive on it better thaii| 

 on birch or maple.— Sydney Webb, Maidstone House, Dover : Sept. IQth, 1884. 



[The published descriptions of this larva all seem to agree in giving the ground* 

 colour as hroton. — Eds.]. 



k 



Is Pterophorus gonodactylus douhled Irooded ?— Is it known whether Ptero^ 

 phorus gonodactylus is double brooded ? It is usually supposed to be a June insect 

 but in this district is more frequently taken in the autumn, and during the past ^ 

 season was not uncommon at the beginning of September. The larv» of the earlji '^ 



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