54 MECHANICAL FUNCTIONSV 



had nothing to fear from them, Astronomy was liailed as 

 the noblest and most useful of sciences on this very ac- 

 count ; and yet Astronomy in that instance did nothing 

 more for the world than Entomology has done in the 

 case before us. 



Tusseh Silk Worm. Before we leave the Lepidop- 

 terous Insects, we will describe a species of Silk Worm 

 found in India, which although it is not domesticated like 

 the common one of Europe and America, the Bombyx 

 mori, still appears from time immemorial to have fur- 

 nished the natives with an abundance of an inferior 

 kind of silk for common uses. It is called the Tusseh 

 Silk Worm, and is found in abundance in many parts of 

 Bengal and the adjoining provinces, and the cocoons are 

 reeled and wove into a coarse, dark colored, but most 

 durable fabric called Tusseh doothies, much worn by the 

 Brahmins, and other classes of Hindoos. 



This Silk Worm, whether from want of skill, or from 

 the wild habits of the Moths, is unknown, has never 

 been reared in the usual manner of other worms ; the 

 natives therefore every year, at the proper time, go into 

 the jungles and find the young worms on the limbs of 

 certain trees, which they cut off and convey to other 

 trees of the same kinds near their habitations. These 

 are known by the native names of asseen, and byers 

 trees, and these trees are guarded day and night, in or- 

 der to prevent birds and bats from destroying the young 

 caterpillars. In two or three weeks, these worms ac- 

 quire nearly their full size, being monsters of four inches 

 in length, and three in circumference ; their colors 

 are of a light green, with a yellowish stripe on each 

 side, the sixth and seventh rings being marked with an 

 oblong golden spot. From the back issue a few long, 

 coarse, distinct hairs, with others of a smaller size scat- 

 tered over the body, Fig. 37. 



When these worms are ready to spin their cocoons in 

 which they change to the chrysalis state, they begin by 

 attaching glutinous filaments to a leaf as a foundation, 

 and afterwards spin a strong cord by which the future 

 cocoon is suspended to a twig for additional security. 

 The cocoon is of an oval form and firm texture, as rep- 



