BOMBYX MORI 411 



drawing its thread from various points, and attaching it to others ; it follows, there- 

 fore, that after a time the body becomes, in a great measure, enclosed in the thread. 

 The work is then continued from one thread to another, the silkworm moving its 

 head and spinning in a zigzag way, bending the forepart of the body back to spin 

 in all directions within reach, and shifting the body only to cover with silk the part 

 which was beneath it. As the silkworm spins its web by thus bending the forepart 

 of the body back, and moves the hinder part of the body in such a way only as to 

 enable it to reach the farther back with the forepart, it follows that it encloses itself 

 in a cocoon much shorter than its own body ; for soon after the beginning, the whole 

 is continued with the body in a bent position. During the time of spinning the 

 cocoon, the silkworm decreases in length very considerably ; and after it is completed 

 it is not half its original length : at this time it becomes quite torpid, soon changes 

 its skin, and appears in the form of a chrysalis. The time required to complete the 

 cocoon is five days. In the chrysalis state the animal remains from a fortnight to 

 three weeks : it then bursts its case, and comes forth in the imago state, the moth 

 having previously dissolved a portion of the cocoon by means of a fluid which it ejects. 



The true silkworm (Bombyx mon) is a native of the North of China. Another 

 species, B. cynthia, occurs in India. 



The late Colonel Sir William Keid reported as follows on the Bombyx cynthia : 



' I made several reports on the Bombyx cynthia silkworm, which feeds on the castor- 

 oil plant, for the information of the Society of Arts. It had been introduced into 

 Malta from India, and appeared both hardy and wonderfully prolific ; yet it failed 

 in Malta in 1855. 



2. I had, however, previously distributed a great number of eggs, by sending 

 them to Italy, Franco, and Algeria ; and I contrived to watch the accounts of the 

 trials made in those countries. I found that it had spread there, and had been carried 

 to Spain and Portugal, and was creating considerable interest wherever it had been tried. 



' 3. I was, therefore, induced to reintroduce it into Malta. At the end of July 

 last, I received a few eggs by post, in a quill, from Paris, and these have multiplied 

 in an extraordinary manner, so that I have not attempted to have them counted. The 

 temperature of the winter season, now December, seems, however, to be affecting 

 them, even in Malta, inasmuch as they grow more slowly than they did in the summer ; 

 but, nevertheless, they appear healthy. 



' 4. A very interesting paper, on the progress making in different countries in 

 rearing the Bombyx cynthia, will be found in the last number of the papers of the 

 French Socie'te' d' Acclimation. This paper is by the able President of that Society, 

 M. Geoffrey Saint Hilaire. 



' 5. I had, in 1854, successfully sent the insect to the West Indies. The French 

 .Society have sent it to Brazil, to the Southern United States, and into Egypt. It is 

 being introduced into Germany, and we are now sending more eggs and worms from 

 Malta to Sicily. 



' 6. Experiments are making in France on spinning the silk, which is found to be 

 very fine, very strong, and to take dyes well. In France the cocoons are corded, and 

 afterwards spun, as in Malta. It is said that the chrysalis, on extricating itself from 

 tho cocoon, and becoming a moth, does not, as was supposed, cut the thread ; and the 

 French have partially succeeded in unwinding the cocoons. 



' 7. The great interest I find taken in other countries in the attempts making to 

 naturalise the Bombyx cynthia, has induced me to report to you its re-introduction 

 into Malta, with the view of begging you to make this known to the Society of Arts. 

 I enclose an extract from my despatch, dated 7th of July, 1855, which explains the 

 manner in which I successfully sent the insect to the West Indies ; and in the same 

 manner it may bo easily conveyed from any one country to another. It may be found 

 difficult to preserve the silkworm throughout the winter season, as well as difficult to 

 grow the Bicinus, its proper food, in the climate of Europe. The proper climate for 

 the Bo.nbyx cynthia is within, or on the borders of, the tropics. But tho attempts 

 now making ought not to be the less encouraged on that account, for they are pro- 

 ducing a new raw material for thread and clothing within reach of men of skill and 

 science ; and 127,000 cocoons have recently been sent from Algeria to be manufactured 

 in Alsace. 



' 8. The extraordinary manner in which the Bombyx cynthia multiplies, together with 

 the abundance of food produced for it without culture in warm climates, renders 

 the study of the habits of this insect, and the nature of its cocoons, of considerable 

 importance. 



' 9. I send herewith a small sample of the cloth made from the worms reared in 

 Malta. I have tho honour to be, Sir, 



' Your most obedient humble servant, 



WILLIAM REID, Governor.' 



