48 



" Handbook of Embroidery," written by Miss Higgin, and 

 edited by Lady Marian Alford, and published and sold by 

 the Royal School of Art Needlework, South Kensington. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

 The Eria Silkworm. 



The Eria silkworm, or Attacus ricini, feeds on the Palma 

 Christi, or castor-oil plant, Ricinis communis. 



It is a native of Assam, and according to Mr. Geoghegan 

 is found to the south-west in a track comprising the dis- 

 tricts of Nepaul, Kumaoti, Ladak, Darjeeling Dinagepore, 

 Rungpore, and perhaps parts of Bhangulpore and Purmiah, 

 and in Assam {see map, Plate XXV.) In 1791 Sir W. 

 Jones drew attention to this silk, and Dr. Roxburgh in 

 1804. In Assam the worm spins a white silk, whilst in 

 Dinagepore the colour of the cocoon is brown. 



Dr. A. Wallace states that there are two kinds of cater- 

 pillars, one white and the other green, the white caterpillars 

 invariably spinning red silk and the green ones white. 



The leaves of the castor-oil plant, Ricinis communis or 

 Palma Christi, are the best and commonest food, but it 

 will also feed on the following : — 



Koosool. 



Hindograss. 



Murkurdal. 



Ohonnee. 



Gomaree. 



Litta Pakoree. 



Birzonally. 



Xant/wxylon hostile. 



Goriaria nipalensis. 



Ailanthus glandulosa. 



Ailanthus egccelsa. 



Probably the most complete account of the Attacus 

 ricini is by Mr. Geoghegan, in his report on the Silk 

 Industry of India, of which I avail myself to gather some 

 useful particulars. 



The Attacus ricini, according to Dr. Buchanan, feeds 

 both on Ricinus communis and Ricinus viridis. 



The female moth lays her eggs round a twig and then 

 dies. These twigs are sold in the markets covered with 



