105 



Under these adverse circumstances efforts have been made from, 

 time to time to domesticate other species of silk-producing moths, 

 and utilise their cocoons. Among those, which have been experi- 

 mented on of late years, the Ailanthus worm (Attacus cynthia) 

 must be placed at the head. It is a native of Japan, and has its 

 common name in consequence of its feeding on a hardy tree, named 

 A ilantlius glandulosus. Japan also supplies us with another valuable 

 worm, Anthercea yama-mai, wliich in its native country subsists on 

 the leaves of two kinds of oak, Quercus dentata and serrata. 



India and its immediate neighbourhood are rich in silk producers. 

 The most important is the Tusseh worm {Anthercea paphia), which 

 feeds on various species of Bombax, Terminalia, and some other 

 trees. The cocoon is as large as a hen's egg, and the silk, which 

 is remarkably strong, has been manufactured for centuries and sup- 

 plies clotliing to multitudes of the natives under the name of Tusseh 

 cloth. The head-quarters of Paphia are in Bengal ; but efforts are 

 being made to establish it in other Presidencies. Some months ago 

 this Society received, through the Colonial Secretary's office, a des- 

 patch dated from Poona, Bombay, the writer of which, Capt. G. 

 Coussmaker, details the various methods he employed to introduce 

 the Tusseh worm (or " Tasar silk worm," as he names it) into 

 that neighbourhood. Nearly allied to paphia is the Bughy worm 

 {Anthercexi mylitta) indeed by some authors the two species are held 

 to be identical. Its cocoon, as is the case with some others, is attached 

 to a twig by a long stiff stalk composed of a gummy matter, 

 which is in fact immature silk."^ This gives me the opportunity of 

 stating, that even immature silk is not altogether worthless ; for from 

 it is made the "gut," so indispensable to the fisherman, combining, as 

 it does in the highest degree, the qualities of flexibility, toughness, 

 and indestructibility in water. The best is said to be imported from 

 China and Spain, where it is made by soaking the caterpillar 

 in strong acid, then pulling the body asunder, and winding 

 the gummy matter, exposed to view, round pins placed some 

 distance apart on a board. This substance is the embryo silk 

 utilised before it has been exposed to the air."t 



The Bughy worm feeds on the castor oil plant. The same 

 plant supports the Eria or Arrindy worm (Attacus ricini), which 

 produces a coarse but very durable material much in favour 

 with the poorer classes of India. On the other hand the silk 

 of the Joree worm ( Saturnia religiosce) is exceedingly fine and 

 lustrous ; it chooses the Pipul (Ficus indica) as its food plant. 

 Assam is the native home of the Joree worm, as it is also of the 

 Moongha (Anthercea assamensis). It is found on Zizijphus jujuba, 

 and produces a cocoon which is sometimes f awai coloured, at others 

 nearly white ; the latter is considered the most valuable variety. 

 Another moth of the same family and country is Anthercea royliiy 

 which supports itself on the leaves of some s^Decies of oak. 



Towards the close of 1864 the discovery was made in Senegal 

 on the coast of Africa, of a moth, to which M. Guerin Meneville 

 gave the name of Faidherhia baithinice in honour of General 

 Faidherbe, whose name afterwards became prominent in the 

 Franco-German War. Like the whole of those already mentioned, 



* Linnean Soc. Trans. Vol. VII. f American Naturalist, 1870. 



