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BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS 149 



The Japanese Government long reserved the monopoly of this 

 insect to Japan, death being the penalty for attempting to export 

 it from the country. Several other closely allied species are used 

 for the production of silk, Anther <za pernyi being used in Northern 

 China, and Anther act mylitta, the Tusseh Silkworm, in India. The 

 Mulberry Silkworm (Bombyx mori) was originally a native of 

 China. It was first introduced into Europe in the reign of Justinian 

 by some missionaries who smuggled the eggs to Constantinople. 

 The rearing of the silkworms soon became common, and has ever 

 since formed one of the staple industries of Southern Europe. 

 The only British species belonging to the family Saturniida is 

 the well-known Emperor Moth (Saturnia carpini) ; it is allied to 

 the Great Peacock Moth (Saturnia pyri), which measures 6 inches 

 across the wings, and is the largest moth found in Europe. 



The Geometrae is a large group of moths, the larvae of which 

 are popularly called " Loopers," on account of the peculiar man- 

 ner in which they walk. The caterpillars fix themselves firmly by 

 their last pair of pro-legs and their claspers, and stretch out their 

 slender bodies to their full length ; then, obtaining a hold with 

 the six true legs, they let go the hinder ones, which they now 

 draw up close to the front ones, thus arching the body into 

 a loop ; and the process is repeated again and again. Their mode 

 of rest or attitude when alarmed is no less singular ; fixing them- 

 selves by their hind-legs and stretching their bodies stiffly out 

 at right angles to the branch, they remain absolutely motionless 

 for a very long time, and in this position, aided by their shape and 

 coloration, so closely resemble a dead twig that they often escape 

 observation and elude their foes. 



In the above very brief outline of the Lepidoptera little has 

 been said about the anatomy of true insects, and therefore it will 

 be as well now to give a short description of the chief points of 

 interest, so that the reader may be made familiar with certain 

 terms which are used to describe the various parts of the body 

 of all true insects. 



" The material l of which the external coverings of insects are 

 composed is called chitine, and carbonises and retains its form 

 when exposed to a very high temperature a simple test which 

 proves the difference of its composition as compared to horn, 

 1 F. Martin Duncan, " Insect Pests of the Farm and Garden." 



