250 



THE INSECT WOELD. 



very similar in every respect to that of the Cynthia. The rearing 

 of this worm could never attain to any great importance in 

 France, on account of the necessity there is of renewing the 

 plantations of the castor-oil plant each year. It would, however, 

 afford an additional source of income to the farmers in the south 

 of France, who cultivate the castor- oil plant with a view to sell- 

 ing its seeds, which are much used in pharmacy. 



Nearly allied to the genus Attacus, which furnishes us with all 

 these precious auxiliaries to the mulberry silkworm, are a great 

 number of other species, both indigenous to Europe, and exotic, 



Fig. 22tt. Saturaia pavonia-majur. 



mostly remarkable for their great size, and a few of which are 

 common in this country. 



Fig. 229 is the largest European moth, but never found far- 

 ther north than the latitude of Paris. Its wings are brown, 

 waved, and variegated with grey. Each of them has a large 

 black eye- shaped spot, surrounded by a tawny circle, surmounted 

 by one white semicircle, and by another of a reddish hue, the 



