NOTES ON CKRTAIN SILK-PRODUCING BOMBYCES. 265 



The young worms of A. Pernyi hatch in June or beginning 

 of July, when there is an abundance of foliage to feed them. 

 Besides lliis advantage over Yama-Ma'i it has another — the 

 great facility with which it is reproduced, the moths always 



f)airing in whatever place they may be. The cocoon is 

 arger than that of Yama-Ma'i, 



Attacus Polyphemus {Telea Polyphemus) from North 

 America. — Tliis most valuable insect, which produces a 

 closed cocoon like the two preceding species, is polyphagous, 

 thriving well on willow, birch, oak, nut, chestnut, beech, 

 elm, &c. This species must be considered as single-brooded. 

 It is so in Illinois and Michigan, at least when the larvae are 

 reared in the open air. 



Several of my correspondents who, this year, bred 

 A. Polyphemus, having obtained the moths in the autumn, it 

 must be stated that the cocoons were kept in rooms, which 

 should not be done if they are to be preserved till May of 

 the following year, when the moths begin to make their 

 appearance. It must also be borne in mind that many 

 species of Lepidoptera which are single-brooded in northern 

 countries may become double-brooded if bred in captivity 

 or in warmer countries. 



A. Polyphemus can be reared in the open air in this country. 

 At the end of last July, previous to a journey 1 made to Paris, 

 I left a kyf Polyphemus larvas on small trees in my garden, 

 nut, willow, and birch. On my return to London in 

 September, I was much pleased to see fine cocoons on the 

 trees, although the quality of the foliage was not good. 



The larva of A. Polyphemus is most magnificent. In its 

 last stage it is covered with forty-eight silver and eight gold 

 metallic spots, the latter being on the first two segments. 

 When the sun shines on the larva, which is of a fine green 

 with small pink spines, it seems covered with diamonds. 



The fine and strong silk o^ Attacus Yama-Ma'i, A. Peniyi, 

 and A. Polyphemus could be seen at the Paris Exhibition. The 

 silk of Yama-Ma'i is light green, Pernyi light brown, and 

 Polyphemus white. Besides the three species mentioned, 

 there are several others which produce closed cocoons, but as 

 they have not, as yet, been bred in this country, no mention 

 will be made of them. 



(To be contimied.) 



