Silk-producing Bombycide. 317 
measure to be attributed to the alteration of climate seems proved 
by the fact that the Boro-pooloo removed from Bengal into Oudh 
began to hatch for a second crop in the month of April, but was 
checked by being placed in a colder temperature. (Dr. Bonavia’s 
Report, 1864, p. 8.) 
Of the moths of the different species I have said nothing because 
I do not consider any one of them to be in a natural state; at 
present, with the exception of size, the same description would 
apply nearly equally well to all of them; and it is to be observed, 
moreover, that, even taking each species separately, there will be 
found a very great variety among the moths, so that it would be 
next to impossible to decide as to which was to be regarded as a 
typical specimen. Pale ashy-white, with a brownish band run- 
ning parallel with the exterior margin of the upper wings, is the 
usual appearance, although the band is often either partially or 
altogether absent. This uncertainty must be attributed to the un- 
settled condition of the insects, and will never cease until each is 
restored to something like its original vigour of constitution. 
Wild indigenous Species of India. 
Turning now to the wild species of Continental India, we are 
at once struck by the fact that, instead of being exclusively 
restricted in their diet to the mulberry leaf, as are the domes- 
ticated worms from China, one only of the four known species is 
found upon that tree, while two of the others are respectively 
restricted, it would appear, to the Ficus religiosa and Artocarpus 
lacoocha, the food of the fourth species being unrecorded. 
Besides this peculiarity, the wild species are remarkable for the 
variety and beauty of the colours with which the worms are 
ornamented, as well as by the presence of several longitudinally- 
disposed rows of semi-horny spines in addition to the dorsal spine 
on the penultimate segment, as possessed by all the Chinese 
species. 
These natural differences in the two sections of this group are 
not, however, in my opinion, sufficient to warrant the inference 
that the wild and the domesticated species belong to different 
genera, any more than the presence or absence of tails, in the 
species of the genus Papilio, could do so; for we see that in 
respect to colour, the Chinese worms, when restored to some 
degree of health, exhibit a very different appearance from that 
of the worm in its usual sickly state, and that they actually make 
a near approach to the uncultivated species. Besides which, 
there are so many traits in the habits, manners, structure and 
