Silkworm from Japan. 361 
them before the food is ready. I have observed, I believe, a some- 
what similar shade-loving habit in the Lepidopterous larvae of 
Notodonta trepida, These I have frequently found in pairs on 
the cool north side of an oak tree, but I have never beaten them 
from the sunny side. These larvee are considered by Entomolo- 
gists as peculiarly difficult to rear, and the Bombyx Yamamai 
larvee certainly resemble them greatly in that peculiarity, being 
very delicate insects. The first sign observed of the young worm’s 
existence is a little round hole, made in the side of the egg wall. 
This is enlarged to the size of the head of the larva, and after a 
pause, sometimes of several days, the larva emerges, generally in 
early morning from sunrise to 9 a.m., few having been found by 
me to emerge after that hour. 
I should observe here that my descriptions of the eggs and of 
the larvee, up to the last change, were made from specimens kindly 
sent me by Mons. Guérin-Méneville and others; but inasmuch 
as in their fourth stage all my worms perished, I am compelled 
to finish my descriptions from the accounts of Mons. Méneville, 
Mons. Personnat, &c. 
Immediately after birth the young worm is said to expand in 
volume in consequence of the air inspired, but probably also be- 
cause the tubercles and spines, which were previously flattened 
down inside the egg, are now erect and prominent. I agree there- 
fore with the statement that the worm seems to grow even before 
it has eaten. 
Description of the newly-born larva: length 2 of an inch; 
head of a pale oak colour, larger than any other segment; collar 
of a lighter tint of the same colour, having four bright yellow 
tubercles, situate two on the dorsum and two laterally, emitting long 
curled bristles. The ground colour is a bright primrose, with 
five velvet-black longitudinal lines, one dorsal and four lateral. 
There are also four rows of tubercles, longitudinally placed in the 
interspaces between the five lines, and a row of tubercles below 
the lowest lateral line on each side, one set of six tubercles thus 
belongs to each segment. From the upper row of tubercles 
spring stout black bristles, curling outwards ; from the lower ones 
spring white bristles. On the third and fourth segments are two 
more elevated tubercles, forming a hump studded with very black 
hairs. On the penultimate segment is another pair of elevated 
tubercles, with similar bristles, and just anterior to these a black 
velvety spot, The tubercles are at first light-coloured, but soon 
assume a dark velvety hue. There are three white scaly patches, 
one above, and two somewhat below and to the side of the anal 
