62 



Phalcena Attacus Atlas (Linn.) 



Bombyx Atlas (Fabricius). 



Satumia Silhetica (Heifer). 



The image or perfect moth of this species is the largest of all 

 the silk moths. As will be seen by Plates IX. and X., it is a 

 grand insect. It is called in France, Le Ge'ant des Papillons. 

 The largest specimens measure upwards of 10 in. in expanse 

 of wing. According to Horsfield it feeds on the Melokko 

 (PhyllantJtus emblica), a plant known also in India as 

 Kupu gaga. Mr. Geoghegan says the silkworm is found 

 in Mussooree on the Falconeria insignia, Bradleia ovata, 

 and other plants ; in Kumaon, on the barberry, where it is 

 abundant, and also eastward to Cachar. 



A letter dated Khoorda, 30th December 1879, from 

 W. C. Taylor, Esq., which I have previously mentioned in 

 speaking of the Eria worm, states that Attacus Atlas is 

 found in Khoorda, and, like the Eria worm, feeds on the 

 " N'albeli," which Dr. Stewart supposes to belong to the 

 Moonseed order. It feeds, too, on the Soom tree, Sarco- 

 stemma brevistigma. Mr. P. H. Gosse has written a most 

 interesting life-history of this species, describing all that is 

 known of it. His paper, from which I quote a few pertinent 

 facts, will be found in the " Entomologist " of February 

 and March 1879. He says. " It is a widespread species 

 ranging over the South and East half of Asia, continental 

 and insular, common on the slopes of the Himalaya, and all 

 through India to the points of both peninsulas ; abundant 

 in China ; scattered over the isles of the Archipelago, from 

 Java to the Moluccas, to Borneo and the Philippines, a 

 range of 35° of latitude and 55° of longitude." 



His efforts to breed the Atlas worm in England are 

 described ; and although he has not been very successful, 

 owing to sickness and death in the larval stage, his account 

 is very interesting. Captain Landy, of Surbiton, has 

 succeeded in obtaining fifteen good cocoons from twenty- 

 four eggs, the larv<B having been fed on the common 

 barberry. Mr. Gosse has fed his on the sallow, others on the 

 plum and apple tree leaves. He states that all the family 

 of Satumiidcs are very polyphagous. 



It is interesting to observe the micaceous or window- 

 like spot on each of the four wings. These, although 

 characteristic of the Satumiidw, are almost more largely 

 developed in Attacus Atlas than in any other species. The 

 French call these vitreous membranes porte-miroirs. 



There are several varieties of Attacus Atlas which show 

 their divergence from the type by the variations of these 



