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CHAPTER IV. 



Wild Silks. 



As far as I can learn, the only species of silk at present 

 utilised in India besides those of the several species of mul- 

 berry-feeding worms of the genus Bombyx are the wild 

 ones of the following species : — 



Anthercea mylitta, or Tusser worm. 

 „ Assama, or Muga worm. 



„ perotteti. 



„ nebulosa. 



„ Roylei. 



„ Frithii. 



„ mezankooria. 



Attacus ricini, or Eria worm. 

 „ atlas, or Atlas worm. 

 „ Echuardsia. 

 Cricula trifenestrata. 



And perhaps 

 Attacus selene and Anthercea Heifer i. 



Of these only Anthercea mylitta, A. Assama, and Attacus 

 ricini have been utilised to any important extent, although, 

 in addition to them, there is in India a large number of 

 other species which produce silk cocoons. 



The Indian localities of the four principal ones, Ricini, 

 Atlas, Muga, and Tusser, are shown on the maps, Plates 

 XXIV., XXV., XXVI., XXVII., by shading. 



The unshaded spaces, representing large portions of terri- 

 tory, on each map, are not left unshaded because the districts 

 they represent do not produce the respective silks, but 

 because I have received no reports from the India Office 

 which give any account of their being found there. I 

 believe the Tusser worm will be found to be productive 

 over the whole of India and also of British Burma. 



The only wild silk at present exported from India is the 

 Tusser, which I shall describe in the following chapter. 



CHAPTER V. 



Tusser Silkworm and Silk. 



The most important Indian wild silk is that known as 

 Tusser, Tussah, or perhaps more properly spelled Tasar. 



