704 Transactions of the American Institute. 



their exportation under punishment of death. The Japanese had 

 for man}' years been cultivating the oak silk-worm, together with the 

 common worm, the produce of wliich was used for making the rich 

 vestments for the royal family. The eggs above alluded to were 

 sent to the imperial government of France, and placed in the hands 

 of the Society of Acclimatization, at the Jardin des Plantes of 

 Paris. Fi'om the want of proper food many were lost or perished, 

 as their habits had not become sufficiently known, bnt a portion 

 were saved through the efforts of the president of the society, wlio 

 procured young oak leaves from the south of France to feed the 

 worms in early spring, until the foliage had become sufficiently 

 advanced on the oaks in Paris. The above reason is the true one 

 why this valuable species of worm and silk was for so many years 

 unknown to the naturalists and merchants of Europe. At the pre- 

 sent time there is no difficulty in procuring supplies of the eggs 

 from Japan, though great care is necessary to bring them over in a 

 perfect state. M. Personnat, of Laval, and M. Guerind Meneville, of 

 Paris, both learned entomologists and sericulturists, and who stand 

 at the head of naturalists in France, have been most indefatigable in 

 introducing and rearing many new and valuable species of silk- 

 worms ; they liave devoted mneh time and attention to the oak- 

 feeder, and speak favorably of this species as one of the most valua- 

 ble among the races in the domestic menagerie of France, though, in 

 the experience of both gentlemen, much trouble and expense has 

 been incurred in their propagation, having been quite unsuccessful 

 for years. 



After repeated attempts and experiments tliey have succeeded in 

 • bringing to perfection this delicate and beautiful insect, and raising 

 thonsands of cocoons. Their opinions are most favorable as to the 

 ultimate success of the oak-eater, and predict they will yet be grown 

 on a large and remunerative scale. Great care is necessarj' iri feeding, 

 and many experiments had been made to ascertain the best methods. 

 M. Personnat raised thousands of worms, partly in the open air on oak 

 shrubs, and partly in an open room with cut boughs, each with suc- 

 cess. He also recommends the long bonghs of oak in pots, or oak trees 

 covered with net-work. His accounts, covering the experience of years, 

 is quite lengthy and extremely interesting, which has been translated 

 from the French, showing the success which has attended his culti- 

 vation of this valuable species in Europe, while others have met with 

 much disappoiatmcnt. lie has alio draM'u out a scale of profits to 



