NOTES ON CERTAIN SILK-PRODUCING BOMBYCES. 



263 



These, when the pupa is ripe, lie between 

 the undeveloped wings, extend a little 

 beyond them, and then curve backwards 

 (fig. 3). The iraago of this, and pro- 

 bably of some allied species also, 

 emerges from the pupa-case with sur- 

 prising celerity. This wonderful trans- 

 formation is performed in less time than 

 a man takes to change his coat. When 

 the pupa comes to the surface of the 

 water, the skin of the thorax parts, the 

 head and shoulders of the gnat appear, 

 and it comes forth steadily as though 

 some one were squeezing it out. In 

 fifteen seconds it is free, and flies away! Fig. 3,— Mag. 5 diams. 

 173, Acre Laue, Brixton, S.W. 



NOTES ON CERTAIN SILK-PRODUCING BOMBYCES. 

 By Alfred Wailly. 



(Membre-Laureat de la Societe d'Acclimatation de France.) 



As many English entomologists now take an interest in 

 European and Exotic Lepidoptera, I send you some notes 

 on silk-producing Hombyces which have been bred in this 

 country during the year 1878: — 



SiLK-PRODUCING BoMBYCES WITH CLOSED COCOONS. 



.^//acMsYama-Ma? (Japanese oak-silkworm). — This species, 

 reared in Britain for several years with very little success, 

 is in the egg state during the winter. The moths, which pair 

 with difficulty in confinement, lay their eggs in August and 

 September. About a fortnight after the eggs have been 

 deposited, if fertile, they contain a larva which remains in the 

 egg till the end of April or beginning of May (according to 

 temperature), before it makes its appearance. In warmer 

 countries the young larvae hatch earlier. The eggs of Yama- 

 Ma'i must be kept in the open air protected from the rain and 

 the rays of the sun. In case they should hatch before the 

 oak leaves or buds should be sufficiently advanced to feed 

 the young larvae, small oak trees should be potted, and 

 protected from the frost during the winter, but the trees 



