104 



FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT OP 



uralists to divine why Linnseus applied this name to our moth, I give the 

 following explanation by Dr. Fitch : " The great legislator of this depart- 

 ment of human knowledge, as he is expressively styled by Latreille, it has- 

 been frequently remarked, was endowed with a genius that few of his dis- 

 ciples have inherited, for selecting names for natural objects, which ai-e most 

 appropriate and happy. The idea which was present in the mind of Lin- 

 naeus, when he named this splenxJid moth, we think is sufficiently evident- 

 The Athenians were the most polished and refined people of antiquity.- 

 The moths are the most delicate and elegant of insects; they are the Athe- 

 nians of their race. Cecrops was the founder, the head of the Athenian 

 people. When the names of men were bestowed upon cities, ships or other 

 objects regarded as being of the feminine gender, classical usage changed 

 these names to the feminine form. The moths (Phalsena) being feminine^ 

 and the name of Cecrops being more euphonius in this form, probably in- 

 duced Linnteiis to change it in the manner he did. The name thus implies 

 this to be the leader, the head of this most elegant tribe of insects, or in 

 other words, the first of all the insect kind. What name more appropriate, 

 can be invented for this sumjituous moth ?" 



[Fig. U.] .... 



Daring the Avinter time, the large cocoons ot* 

 this insect (Fig. 34) may be found attached to the 

 twigs of a variety of trees. I have found them 

 upon Apple, Cherry, Currant, Barberry, Hazel^ 

 Plum, Hickory, Blackberry, Elderberry, Elder,. 

 Elm, Lilac, Eed-root, Majjle, Willow and Honey- 

 locust. It has also been found on the Pear. This 

 cocoon tajDcrs both ways, and is invariably fastened 

 longitudinall}" to the twig ; it is formed of two dis- 

 tinct layers, the outer one, which is loose, wrinkled^ 

 and resembles strong brown paper, covering an 

 inner oval cocoon composed of the same kind of 

 silk, but closely woven like that of the Mulberry 

 silkworm. Inside this cocoon will be found the 

 large brown chrysalis (Fig. 35). The cocoon of 

 the- Polyphemus moth, f'*"'-- ^'^^ - 



an insect which will be 

 presently treated of, auO 

 which has been called by 

 Mr. L. Trouvelot, of Med- 



ford, Massachusetts, the "American Silkworm," is 

 rounded, and the silk is very closely and com- 

 pactly woven ; and though that of our Cecropia 

 is not as valuable for utilitarian purposes, yet I 

 incline to believe that it will some day be propa- 

 gated for the silk which it produces ; and though it 

 may not lay claim to the national title of THE 

 American Silkworm, it will nevertheless rank as 

 second best, among those which are indigenous to 



