THE SILK SPINNERS 3057 



Asia, while a much larger form, the peacock moth (S. Pyri), is not uncommon in 

 Southern Europe, and has been caught as far north as Paris. Passing on to the 

 Chinese oak silk moth (S. pemyi}, we find that its chief interest lies in the fact of 

 the commercial value of its cocoon; a value which has not been fully recognized for 

 more than thirty or forty years. The Abb Perny, from whom it derives its scientific 

 name, was the first to introduce it to the notice of European silk merchants, and 

 from him we have a description of the method adopted by the Chinese in breeding 

 and rearing the larvae and winding off the silken treasure. Coppices of dwarf oak 

 trees are cultivated, the earth is smoothed and cleansed with great care beneath the 

 trees, while attendants are always at hand to shift the larvae from one bush to an- 

 other, or restore them to the foliage when they have fallen to the ground. The 

 best of the cocoons from last year's cultivation are placed in a carefully-regulated 

 temperature, and the moths are hatched off exactly at the season when the oak 

 leaves are beginning to be ready for the larvae. This will be about the month of 

 April, when the females are laid in wicker trays where they may deposit their eggs. 

 Soon, within ten days, the tiny larvae creep forth and mount the oak twigs laid in 

 the trays for their reception. Carried forth to the tender oak foliage, they quickly 

 commence to feed, while the keepers are always on the watch to protect them from 

 insect vermin, birds, etc. , which, if permitted, would soon clear off the whole planta- 

 tion. Forty-five days at the outside, and the larvae are full fed; they then spin 

 their cocoons, pass into the pupa state, and the winding off of the silken harvest 

 begins. The largest cocoons are selected and set aside for the breeding of larva? for 

 another year. The rest are exposed to a high temperature which destroys the 

 pupae within. Boiling water in which the earthly salts of buckwheat ashes 

 cleaned for this purpose have been dissolved renders the cocoon fit for being 

 unwound. The silk is wound off in strands, five, six, or eight in number, a 

 single strand from each cocoon, according to the strength of thread required. The 

 silk thus prepared is much stronger than that from the silkworm moth, though it 

 is neither so fine in texture nor so valuable. The Japanese oak silk moth (S. yama- 

 wai") is closely allied to the above, and the process of cultivation of the insect much 

 the same. 



THE SILK SPINNERS Family BOMBTCID^S 



The only species belonging to this family known in Europe is the one 

 mentioned as the true silkworm moth (Bombyx mori). This insect has become 

 acclimatized in many parts of Southern Europe, where, as in China, it is cultivated 

 for its silken produce. The larva is itself not remarkable, save perhaps for its 

 resemblance to the caterpillars of the hawk moths, with its smooth naked skin, and 

 short erect tail. It is, however, by far the most valuable caterpillar yet discovered. 

 Ages ago, from two to three thousand years before the Christian era, if Chinese 

 records be reliable, this larva was well known in the far East, and already silk 

 culture was a well-established element in the national industry. History relates 

 how the eggs were first brought to Europe, in the reign of the Emperor Justinian, 



192 



