546  Lieutenant-Colonel Syxrs’ Account of the Silk-worm of the Deccan. 
The cocoon in the drawing is on the branch of a teak-tree. I have not 
been able to ascertain that any use is made of the silk of the Kolisurra on 
Western India, although the knowledge of the existence of the insect is 
universal, from there being an adage in Mahratta, that a man who 
voluntarily involves himself in almost inextricable difficulties is like the 
‘Kolisurra shut up in its cell. The extensive use, also, by matchlock 
men of the cocoon cut into thongs, as ligatures for binding the match- 
lock barrel to the stock, could not fail to diffuse the knowledge of the 
insect: the thongs are more durable than those of leather. 
Wherever Dr. Roxsurcu’s description of the Bhugi applied to the 
Kolisurra, 1 have used his language marked by inverted commas. 
‘ With respect to the strength of the fibre of the silk, I have to remark, 
that a single filament or thread supported a weight of one hundred and 
ninety-eight grains ; and in repeated trials, I was cautious to guard against 
using a double filament, I have no reason to doubt, therefore, the results 
fairly indicating its strength. 
The male moth differs from the female, in the following particulars :— 
The body is less by one-third ; the legs shorter; the anienn@ oval, or broad 
lanceolate, instead of narrow lanceolate; the ground-colour of the wings 
two or three shades darker, and their expansion less; those of the female 
measuring seven inches across, and of the male five and a-half inches. A 
male in my possession lived six days without food, and during his confine- 
ment deposited daily a quantity of a brownish-white fluid, which had a 
disagreeable odour. 
(Signed) W. H. Syxes, 
NOTE. 
London, May 21, 1832. 
Sivce the above was written, now some years ago, J have reared many of the insects from 
the pupa state, and cxn bear unhesitating testimony that the females invariably deposited 
their eggs without the possibility of their having communicated with males: but the eggs 
were never productive ; in fact, they had not been fecundated. 
With respect to the Kolisurra not being the Arrindé silk-worm of Dr. Roxsurcu, 
which an European entomologist has pronounced it to be, no further evidence is necessary 
than that of Mr. Arxinson, who states that the cocoons of the latter are remarkably 
