the Tusseh and Arrindy Silk-Worms of Bengal 3* 



Chrysalis. "When the caterpillars are ready to spin the cases 

 in which they are to pass this state of their existence, each of 

 them connects, by means of the recent glutinous filament of 

 which the case is made, two or three leaves into an exterior 

 envelope, which serves as a basis to spin the complete case or 

 cocoon in ; besides, the case is suspended from a branch of 

 the tree in a wonderful manner by a thick strong consolidated 

 cord, spun of the same materials from the bowels of the ani- 

 mal. See Tab. II. fig. 5. This case is of an exact oval shape, 

 and exceeding firm texture: in it the animal remains dor- 

 mant and perfectly protected for about the space of nine 

 months, viz. from October until July, so that they make their 

 appearance in time for the caterpillars to come into existence 

 when Providence has furnished them with the greatest plenty 

 of proper food, viz. during the months of August, September, 

 and October. When the insect is prepared to make its es- 

 cape and be changed to its perfect state, it discharges from its 

 mouth a large quantity of liquid, with which the upper end of 

 the case is so perfectly softened as to enable the moth to work 

 its way out in a very short space of time; an operation which 

 is always performed during the night. 



'Imago. In their perfect state they are wholly taken up in provid- 

 ing for a continuation of the species, and do not exist more 

 than from six to twelve days when confined : how long they 

 may live when at liberty is hard to say, but I imagine nearly the 

 same as when restrained. While in this state of perfection'thcy 

 receive no nourishment whatever, nor have they any mouth or 

 channel by which food can be received. When the female is 

 impregnated she deposits her eggs on the branches of the tree 

 she mav be resting on, to which thev adhere firnilv bv means 

 *>f the gluten they arc covered with when newly laid. 



r 2 The 



