37 



5. The Joree worm, called by Dr. Heifer Bomlyx religiosus (not 

 religiora) is suspected to be no Bombyx but an Ocinara, a very 

 small species, whose cocoon is not worth the trouble of cultivation. 



Then, with regard to Dr. Bennett's second paragraph, cocoons 

 and eggs can only be sent off with due regard to the time of eating 

 out and of hatching. I do not consider it safe to despatch any 

 species until the winter or cold season, as all then take their 

 longest rest. The eggs of all the Bombyce.s, if sent off earlier, 

 would assuredly hatch en route, and until the cocoons of the last 

 brood of all the Antherace and Attace are procurable ; the moths 

 would also certainly break out and be lost. If packed in perfo- 

 rated metal cylinders, as Dr. Bennett recommends, the ends of 

 such cylinders should be simply covered with a strong piece of 

 gauze, and all the cylinders packed in a strong wooden box with 

 perforated sides ; these may be placed close to each other to keep 

 them steady in the box, but no cotton or any other packing 

 stuff likely to promote heat and prevent a free circulation of 

 air should be used. No shaking of the slightest consequence 

 would occur, because the cocoons in the cylinders would steady 

 each other, and the cylinders in the box would act in the same 

 manner to each other. As to leaving room for the moths to come 

 out, the great and most desirable object in my opinion is to 

 prevent all hatching, for, without a very large and inconvenient 

 space, no moths would couple in the box, nor would have space 

 to do so. If it could be managed. I would recommend an outer 

 cylinder containing ice, in order to retard hatching; but care 

 must be taken to prevent any moisture reaching either eggs or 

 cocoons. I do not see, however, how this can be done without 

 excluding air, and that must be admitted. Again, on no account 

 ought the boxes to be placed in the hold of the ship, or they will 

 certainly ferment and rot ; they must be kept between decks, 

 where air can freely circulate without exposure to sun or rain. 

 I have always packed cocoons in perforated boxes without sus- 

 pending them at all ; and indeed as the boxes are almost certain 

 to be turned bottom upwards, or on their sides during transit, 

 suspension with room to move becomes perfectly useless. The 

 chief thing is not to squeeze them into the cylinders, but simply 

 lightly touching each other. 



The eggs of the Bomlyces usually hatch from eight to ten days 

 after being deposited, so that all would certainly hatch en route, 

 unless the eggs of the last brood were selected ; for as yet, I 

 believe, we have discovered no method of transmitting packets by 

 the telegraph wire, and even if we had there is no wire between 

 India and Australia, so that Dr. Bennett's plan of despatching 

 eggs, as soon as laid, would never answer, while even annuals, 

 whether in cocoon or the eggs, will often hatch at improper 

 seasons whenever they experience a suitable temperature ; and as 



