LEFT COPTER A. 441 



wings, or have but very small ones. The caterpillars most commonly spin a 

 cocoon; the number of their feet varies from ten to sixteen. The chrysalides 

 are always rounded, or without angular elevations or points. 



The classification of this family is very embarrassing, and with respect to it 

 our systems are as yet merely imperfect essays or rude sketches. It is now 

 divided into ten sections, each consisting of numerous genera, differing in 

 various details of form and habits, both in the larva or caterpillar state, and 

 that of the perfect insect. They are all nocturnal. These sections are 



1. The HEPIALITES. The caterpillars are rare, and remain concealed in the 

 heart of the plants on whieh they feed ; their cocoon is mostly formed of par- 

 ticles of the matter that nourishes them. The margin of the abdominal 

 annuli of the chrysalis is dentated or spinous. The antennae of the perfect 

 insect are always short, and most frequently present but one sort of small, 

 short, rounded, and crowded teeth. Those of the four others are always termi- 

 nated by a simple thread; but they are furnished inferiorly in the males with 

 a double line of setae. The proboscis is always very short, and but slightly 

 apparent. The wings are tectiform and usually elongated. The last abdominal 

 annuli of the females form an elongated oviduct or sort of tail. The cater- 

 pillars of these insects are very injurious to several kinds of trees and other 

 useful vegetable productions. 



Here we have Hepialus, Cossus, Stygia, Zetizera, &c. 



2. The BOMBYCITES are distinguished from those of the preceding one and 

 the third, by the following characters : the proboscis always very short, and 

 merely rudimental; wings either extended and horizontal or tectiform, but the 

 lower ones extending laterally beyond the others; antennae of the males 

 entirely pectinated. 



The caterpillars live in the open air, and feed on the tender parts of plants. 

 Most of them form a cocoon of pure silk. The margin of the abdominal 

 annuli is not dentated in the chrysalis. 



BOMBYX proper. 



B. mori, Lin. Whitish, with two or three obscure and transverse streaks ; 

 a lunated spot on the superior wings. 



The caterpillar is well known by the name of Silk-worm. It feeds on the 

 leaves of the mulberry, and spins an oval cocoon of a close tissue, with very 

 fine silk, usually of a yellow colour, and sometimes white. A variety is now 

 preferred, which always yields the latter. 



The Bombyx which produces it is originally from the northern provinces of 

 China. According to Latreille, the city of Turfan, in Little Bucharia, was 

 for a long time the rendezvous of the western caravans, and the chief entrepot 

 of the Chinese silks. It was the metropolis of the Seres of Upper Asia, or of 

 the Serica of Ptolemy. Driven from their country by the Huns, the Seres 

 established themselves in Great Bucharia and in India. It was from one of 

 their colonies, Ser-hend (Ser-indi), that Greek missionaries, in the reign of 

 Justinian, carried the eggs of the silk-worm to Constantinople. At the period 

 of the first crusades, the cultivation of silk was introduced into the kingdom of 



