NOTES ON CERTAIN SILK-PRODUCING BOMBYCES. 9 
genus, has also the habit of dropping down when touched, but it 
will often adhere to the finger. 
Attacus Cynthia (Samia Cynthia).—A species acclimatized in 
France and in the United States of America. Easy to rear in the 
open air on the ailanthus trees. Will feed also, but not so well, 
on the laburnum, lilac, and cherry. Double-brooded. Moths will 
often emerge in the autumn, especially if the rearing of the larve 
has taken place early. A. Cynthia is a native of North China; 
the moths pair as readily as those of Attacus Pernyi, and emerge 
about the end of June. 
Attacus Promethea (Samia Promethea), from North America.— 
The cocoon of this species is very similar to that of Cynthia, but 
smaller. The moths do not pair very easily; the larve are rather 
difficult to rear. Perhaps the proper food-plant has not yet been 
discovered. The larva in England and on the Continent of 
Europe has been fed on lilac and cherry. In America, it feeds on 
the Laurus sassafras and Laurus Benzom. The male and female 
moths differ very much in colour, the male being of a velvety 
black, the female brown. 
Attacus Cecropia (Samia Cecropia) from North America.—This 
species is extremely polyphagous, eating almost any kind of 
foliage: fruit trees, especially plum and apple; also willow (all 
Species), poplar, maple, &c. I received in December, 1877, an 
extraordinary number of live cocoons of Cecropia from America 
(5500). It has been bred extensively this year in England, 
France, Belgium, Germany, Austria, and Portugal. I let go 
from my garden a large quantity of impregnated females, and 
also took a quantity to a wood near London. Have some of them 
established themselves in this country ? that is the question. 
Attacus Atlas (Samia Atlas—Saturnia Atlas) from India, 
China, &c.—Food plants: apple, plum, peach, barberry, &c. Of 
this remarkable species, I could only obtain one brood (pairing), 
the moths having commenced to emerge only a few days before my 
leaving London for Paris, at the end of July. The ova I obtained 
(180) all turned out fertile. . Most of the larve obtained were bred 
in France, and some in England. A friend of mine in the 
country succeeded in rearing all the larvee (excepting a few, which 
had escaped) in a hot-house, on the barberry. The larve formed 
their cocoons about a month after their exit from the ova—an 
extraordinarily short time. I saw the cocoons, which were rather 
Cc 
