BOMBYX. INSECTS 367 



slightly falcate, the under ones in repose margining the upper 

 ones ; antennae of the females less pectinated than those of the 

 males ; caterpillar smooth, with sixteen feet, and of a whitish 

 yellow colour, the skin wrinkled behind the head, and a small 

 horn on the last segment. Shaw, vi. pi. 77- 



This species, of which the caterpillar is known by the name of the silk-worm, is 

 said to have come originally from the northern provinces of China ; and before the 

 introduction of the animal into Europe, the silk which is procured from its cocoon 

 was sold for more than its weight in gold. The city of Turfau in Bucharia, the 

 metropolis of the Seres, or the Serica of Ptolemy, was for a long period the princi- 

 pal rendezvous and the depot of the silk merchants of China. Expelled from their 

 country by the Huns this people established themselves in Great Bucharia and India ; 

 and it is related that the Greek missionaries in the reign of the Emperor Justinian 

 transported the ova of the silk worm in reeds for the first time to Constantinople. 

 The cultivation of this useful animal was thus extended to Southern Europe, and 

 was afterwards introduced into Spain and Africa by the Arabs. In the time of the 

 Crusaders the insect passed from Morea into Sicily and Calabria. From Calabria 

 the mulberry and the ova of the same animal were brought to France by some of the 

 followers of'Charles VIII. on his conquest of Naples ; and the cultivation of this 

 insect was afterwards encouraged and patronized by Sully as an important branch of 

 national industry. The mode of feeding and managing the caterpillar or silk worm, 

 and procuring its delicate web, is detailed in numerous works, both scientific and 

 economical. The caterpillar feeds, as is well known, upon the leaves of the black 

 or white mulberry, the last being preferred. After remaining in this state for about 

 six weeks, during which the caterpillar changes its skin four times, the animal ceases 

 to feed, and begins to form an envelope or cocoon of silken fibres in some convenient 

 spot, producing the minute threads till it has formed an oval yellow case or ball 

 about the size of a pigeon's egg, in which it changes to a chrysalis. In this state 

 it remains for about fifteen days, when the perfect insect is produced. This, how- 

 ever, is not allowed to happen where the animals are reared for the sake of the silk, 

 from its being observed that the animal, before leaving its cocoon, discharges a co- 

 loured fluid, which injures the quality. The cocoons are therefore exposed to such a 

 degree of heat as to kill the inclosed animals, a few only being saved to keep up the 

 breed. The moth when produced is but very short-lived, breeding soon after their 

 exclusion, and perishing when the purpose of nature is fulfilled by the deposition of 

 ova for future races. The length of the silken thread when unrolled is said to be 

 from 300 to 500 yards in length, and this thread is composed of two united threads 

 or filaments agglutinated together. The manufacture of silk goods from this hum- 

 ble though beautiful material has been known from the earliest times. The gene- 

 ral use of silk in Europe, however, boasts of no great antiquity. Henry II. of 

 France is said to have been the first individual in that country who had stockings of 

 this manufacture ; Queen Elizabeth first added black silk stockings to the royal 

 wardrobe ; and her successor James I. of England, before his accession to the Eng- 

 lish crown, wrote to the Earl of Mar for the loan of a pair of stockings of the same 

 material, to appear with dignity before the English Ambassador. Towards the end 

 of this prince's reign, however, the broad silk manufacture was prosecuted in England 

 to a considerable extent; and in 1661, the Silk-Throwsters of London employed 

 above four thousand persons. The manufacture of silk goods is now an important 

 branch of British industry. 



TRIBE II. NOCTUO-BOMBYCITES. 



I. Caterpillars always smooth, with sixteen feet, living in the interior of different ve- 

 getables, generally ligneous ones. Margins of the segments of the abdomen of the 

 chrysalis dentated or spinous ; spiral trunk in the perfect insect always very short, 

 or almost none ; antennae of some males furnished interiorly with a double row 

 of beards ; those of the females and both sexes in others with a series of short 

 rounded teeth in all their length. 



Gen. Cossus, ZEUZERA. 



II. Caterpillars living always in open day, naked, smooth, with fourteen feet, the anal 

 ones wanting ; posterior extremity of the body pointed, forked, or entire and trun- 



