The Rev. F. W. Hope ofi Silk Insects. 123 



This insect, as far as I am able to judge from the appearance 

 of the imago, is perhaps allied to, and may be considered the Aus- 

 tralian analogue of that wliich, both from its extreme rarity and 

 beauty, is called in this country the " Glory of Kent," and by 

 systematic writers " Endromis versicolora," which I believe (with 

 the one in question) to be peculiar for having the antennae bipecti- 

 nated in both sexes; but further analogy cannot be ascertained, 

 until the larva and chrysalis are made known by some resident 

 of the country which the insect inhabits. Should chance favour 

 me with the means of laying them before the Society, I will take 

 the first opportunity of doing so, and thus complete my paper. 



The specific name of Collesi was proposed by the late respected 

 President of this Society in honour of Mr. Colles, who brought 

 several specimens to this country ; and it is with great pleasure that I 

 have adopted the name thus proposed. 



XXVII. Observations on Insects jJroducing Silk, and on 

 the possihility of rearing Silk Crops in England. By 

 the Rev. F. W. Hope, F.R.S., fyc. 



[Read December 1, 1834.] 



Previously to entering on the subject of this paper, I will oflFer some 

 statistical details, illustrative of the vast importance to the commer- 

 cial prosj^erity of this great country, of the few insects producing silk. 

 These details may stimulate the entomologist to pursue particular 

 lines of inquiry; and why may we not hoj)e that the result of such 

 researches will be the addition to our productive sources of various 

 new species of these little labourers, to whom man already owes so 

 much ? species which might be available at our own doors, by their 

 capacity of enduring our climate, and thriving on its vegetable pro- 

 ductions, and, in case it were necessary, by having recourse to artifi- 

 cial means for their culture ? May we not suppose the manufacturer 

 would find his hothouses for silk- worms as profitable a speculation, 

 with extended demand, as the fruiterer does his hothouse for the sup- 

 ply of the comparatively limited demand for the luxurious desserts of 

 the rich.'' 



In the years 1832-3 respectively, the quantity of silk imported 



