THE MODERN HISTORY OF SILK. 203 



We hope that still there may be found patriots to per- 

 severe, and gain an ascendancy over prejudice. The 

 cultivation of the Silk Worm and the growing of flax, 

 if pursued with vigour, might yet render Ireland 

 prosperous and happy. 



Very lately, a remarkable phenomenon presented 

 itself in Ireland, which goes far to support our 

 opinions. A voluntary colony of Silk Worms settled 

 on the demesne of Mount Loftus, county of Cork, 

 the seat of Sir Nicholas Loftus, Baronet. On this 

 demesne, there are no mulberry trees ; but there are 

 several of the European spindletree, or Euonymus 

 Europeus ; and of these the insect colonists took 

 possession. One tree was literally weighed down 

 with them ; and it was supposed there could not be 

 less than half a million of worms actively spinning 

 their cones upon it. This remarkable circumstance 

 is well worthy the attention of naturalists, as it proves, 

 that the Silk Worm may exist and thrive upon 

 another tree than the mulberry. Those at Mount 

 Loftus are said to have been in vigorous health, 

 and to have produced excellent silk. 



Time alone can prove what may be the result of 

 feeding these caterpillars on the spindletree. Till 

 then we must suppose that the mulberry is the true 

 food of the Silk Worm ; and will finish our account 

 of this highly useful insect by an account of that 

 tree. 



