23 



pains), to consummate its progress in forming a firm, stout, and clean cocoon 

 of moderate size, and whose moth neither too bulky nor too attenuate, is 

 perfect in its form, development, and covering of down. This standard is 

 attained by continued and assiduous attention, first to cleanliness, second to 

 rigid selection, and thirdly to judicious use of various kinds of mulberry as 

 food plants, according to season one kind being used from first to last (or 

 at any rate during the last two stages at least) with the males, and a different 

 mulberry with the females. Pure races bred in and in in this way soon 

 acquire additional vigour, and are afterwards much more manageable than I 

 have found them on their first introduction. 



I remain, &c., 



CHAKLES BEADY. 

 January 8, 1870. 



From LIEUTENANT- COLONEL WILLIAM AGNEW, Officiating Com- 

 missioner of Assam, to the Secretary to the Government of 

 Bengal (No. 331, dated Oowhatty, the 7th December, 

 1869.) 



SIE, 



In compliance with the instructions conveyed in your letter 

 No. 3086, of the 2nd September last, I have the honor to submit 

 a memorandum, drawn up from the reports of the district officers 

 of this division on the silkworms of Assam, and embodying the 

 information asked for by the Acclimatisation Society of Australia. 



2. With regard to the question of despatching cocoons to Aus- 

 tralia, I would beg leave to point out that of the three species 

 cultivated, viz., the Moogah, the Pat, and the Erie, the two latter 

 are found in Bengal, and I therefore think it would be better to 

 send their cocoons thence than from this more distant province. 



3. I have great doubt as to whether it will be possible to 

 ensure the safe arrival of specimens of the moogah insect. From 

 the enclosed memorandum it will be seen that the chrysalis does 

 not remain dormant for any length of time as is the case with 

 some species ; but after the cocoon is formed, the moth soon 

 emerges and lays its eggs, which again are hatched in a few days. 

 The difficulty, however, may be overcome if the method of packing 

 described in the 5th paragraph of Dr. Bennett's memorandum 

 operates to retard the hatching of the eggs. The best time for 

 sending the cocoons would be the winter season, as heat accele- 

 rates all the stages of development. The month of December is 

 perhaps to be preferred for all reasons. 



4. I shall be able to collect and despatch as many cocoons as 

 may be required if I am furnished with perforated zinc cylinders 

 (which I cannot procure here) of the description recommended by 

 Dr. Bennett, and should I be desired to procure cocoons I request 

 I may be informed by what route and to what; address I should 

 send them, so that by despatching them direct loss of time may 

 be prevented. 



