Silk-producing Bombycide. 325 
12. Bompyx reticiosz, Helfer. 
Syn. Bombyx religiose, Helfer, J. A. S. Beng. vi. p. 41. 
Bombyx Huttoni, apud Moore, Cat. Ind. Mus. 
The Joree Silkworm Moth, Helfer. 
The Deo-mooga Silkworm, Hugon, J. A. S. Beng. vi. pp. 
32, 41. 
Habitat Assam, Sylhet. 
Of this species, notwithstanding the number of years that have 
elapsed since its discovery, and my repeated efforts to obtain it 
through the assistance of gentlemen resident in Assam, nothing 
more appears to be known than what Dr. Helfer recorded in 
1837. It issaid to be somewhat rare, but this I suspect is rather 
to be attributed to the want of research than to any actual scarcity, 
since the insect appears to have been in considerable abundance 
on the trees at the time when its discovery was made. 
The larva of B. religiose is said to feed on the leaves of the 
Peepul tree or Ficus religiosa, and for want of more recent infor- 
mation I must content myself with the account furnished by Dr. 
Helfer (ubi sup.), calling attention to the fact of the worm 
bearing two names,—‘ The Joree” and ‘The Deo-mooga” silk- 
worm, whence, together with one or two other circumstances to 
be pointed out, I am inclined to think there are two species united 
under this name, and that neither of them belongs to the genus 
Bombyz. 
It is to be observed that the species was discovered in Cachar 
by Mr. Hugon in 1834, and he describes the worm as being 
active, very slender in proportion to its length, scarcely 23 inches 
long, of a reddish colour, and glazed, or shining. The moth, he 
says, is “very much like that of the mulberry; so is the cocoon 
also in appearance, colour and size.” 
Now in describing the worm there is not the least allusion to 
the slender semi-horny spines which are so remarkable both in 
B. Huttoni and B, Bengalensis, while the slender glazed form is 
again unlike those species, and seems to approach more closely to 
the genus Ocinara. 
In regard to the cocoon, while Mr. Hugon declares it to be 
very like that of the mulberry worm, “ in appearance, colour and 
size,” Dr. Helfer, on the other hand, declares it to be “ very 
different from the cocoon of the mulberry moth.” 
It is to be remembered, however, that Mr. Hugon spoke of an 
insect which he discovered in Cachar, while Dr. Helfer describes 
one discovered by Major Jenkins in Assam, where “it yields a 
