country, and Mr. Stainton had within the last two or three days bred the moth 

 from a native larva. 



Dr. Wallace addressed the Meeting on the progress and prospects of serici- 

 culture in this country and some of our colonies. He exhibited English-bred 1 

 specimens of Anthersea Yamamai, remarkable for their great variation in tint, , 

 from ashy brown, through various shades of red, to a bright yellow or pale dove- 

 colour; also English and Austrian cocoons of the same species, which had I 

 succeeded better in 1869 than in 1868 : he considered the Eastern counties of ( 

 England unfavourable on account of the dry warm temperature, and that the 

 more humid climate of the Western coast was better suited to the insect ; an 

 equable temperature from 60^ to 75® was requisite, with abundant ventilation 

 and great cleanliness : in Moravia the Baron de Bretton had reared 28,000 

 cocoons in 1869, which were all devoted to the production of eggs : and 

 Dr. Wallace thought the efforts now made in Europe to acclimatize this 

 species would very shortly be successful. He also exhibited specimens of, 

 Bombyx Pernii obtained from cocoons imported from China, and some English i 

 cocoons : this species showed no tendency to vary ; it was hardy and vigorous, , 

 and likely to do w^ell in Europe, but being double-brooded in China, this had to i 

 be carefully guarded against in attempting to acclimatize the race. Cocoons of 

 B. Pernii and of Saturnia Cecropia had been sent to Australia, with a view to 

 the cultivation there of these useful races. Dr. Wallace also exhibited a specimen 

 of the American oak-feeder, Bombyx Polyphemus, reared in England from the 

 egg ; but this species was not yet sufficiently known in this country to speak 

 with certainty about its value as a silk-producer. Also, Japanese silk and 

 cocoons of the mulberry- worm, Bombyx mori, some very large white cocoons of : 

 a noted French race, and specimens of English silk and cocoons, which, 

 especially some produced by Captain Mason of Farnborough, contrasted 

 favourably with the other specimens, and had been pronounced by competent 

 judges to be equal to the best Italian samples. The Silk Supply Association 

 had been formed about a year ago, for the purpose of stimulating the 

 production of silk in all countries where it was possible, and wherever the 

 mulberry tree would grow silk might be produced : silk was the most paying . 

 crop grown ; and California, Australia, the Cape of Good Hope, New Zealand, ^ 

 Egypt, Syria, might all be mentioned as admirably adapted to silk culture. 

 The first number of the ' Silk Supply Record' contained an advertisement by a 

 gentleman at the Cape, offering half profits to any one who would go out and 

 teach him how to grow silk. California last year sent over to Europe her first 

 contribution of silk-worm eggs ; Australia this year was doing the same thing ; 

 eggs from Egypt, Syria and the Cape would soon follow ; and as the price of 

 the eggs was now very high, large profits would at first be made by the sale of 

 eggs : four years ago the price in Japan was four shillings to five shillings an 

 ounce, now it was a guinea an ounce, and the demand could not be satisfied ; 

 on the Continent eggs of the best races sold at a franc a gramme. Dr. Wallace 



