3058 



THE JOINTED ANIMALS 



by Persian monks, concealed in their hollow bamboo staves; and from these silk 

 culture in Europe took its origin. It was, at any rate, carried on at Constantinople 

 in A. D. 520. The Arabs introduced the industry into Spain, whence it spread in 

 the twelfth century to Sicily, and thence to Italy and all the south of Europe. So 

 far as England is concerned, both James I. and George I. endeavored to introduce 

 the cultivation of the silkworm for commercial purposes, but without success. The 

 actual mode of cultivation and preparation of the cocoon differs in no very essential 

 feature from that of the oak silk moth, save that it is usually conducted under cover 

 in well-ventilated rooms; the wicker trays of silkworms being arranged in rows one 

 above the other on light bamboo racks. 



THE HAWK MOTHS Family SPHINGIDJE 



The large moths included in this family are either diurnal or subnocturnal in 

 their habits, flying powerfully both in the daytime or just before nightfall. Among 

 other characteristics, the antennae are gradually thickened toward the tip, which 

 terminates in a hook. The fore-wings are elongate, narrow, and usually pointed 

 toward the apex; while the hind- wings are comparatively of small size. The 

 larvae are smooth, generally with a horn on the last segment of the abdomen. They 

 make no cocoon, but the pupa lies in the earth, into which the larva burrows before 



ADULT AND CATERPILLAR OF SPURGE HAWK MOTH, WITH ICHNEUMON FLY. 



the transformation takes place. As is the case with almost all, they are protected 

 by their coloring, which assimilates to that of the food plant. These fine insects 

 are divided into several subfamilies and many genera. 



As the type of the subfamily Acherontin<z, may be taken the well-known 

 death's-head moth (Acherontia atropos), which is by far the largest of British moths. 

 It is a very stout, bulky insect, with strong, broad wings; its thorax having on the 

 upper side a pale mark, which bears some small resemblance to a human skull, 



