SILK. 



173 



at base and downy on the dorsal surface. Other plants which the 

 Tussur feeds upon include Shorea robusta, the Teak tree, Tectona 

 grandis, and Bombax heptapliyllum, the seven-leaved Silk-Cotton tree, 

 a native of America, and belonging to the Natural Order of plants 

 Sterculiaceae. 



Fig. 114 shows the caterpillar, the moth, and the ragged-looking 

 cocoon; also the food of the Bombyx or Attacus cynthia. This 

 silkworm produces a silk noted for its extreme softness. It is a native 

 of India. Its cultivation is largely carried on in China, Java, and in 



Fig. 113. Fibres of Antherasa mylitta. 



-"Southern Europe. It produces a long greyish cocoon, which hangs 

 suspended from the twigs of trees. 



Another species, the Ailantlms excelsa, has compound bipinnate leaves, 

 with ovate, acute, serrate margins. This species is a native of the East 

 Indies, and was introduced into this country in the year 1800. It 

 also serves as food for Bombyx or Attacus cynthia. 



Cocoons. In the illustration, fig. 115, are four cocoons. (1) is that 

 of Antherasa mylitta, showing in this specimen an outside glossy 

 covering of a brown colour when photographed. 



(2) is that of Antherxa yama-mai. This was smaller, and the 

 specimen had a green flossy surface when photographed. It is the 

 -Japanese silkworm of commerce, and produces a good silky fibre, which 

 has been much used by the Japanese for embroidery purposes. 



(3) is the cocoon from the Anther sea pernyi, a silkworm feeding on 



