104 ON SERICICULTURE. 



temperate climes, where there is no supply of food in the 

 winter months. It has, however, been introduced into 

 tropical countries, where the castor-oil plant, Ricinus covi- 

 munisj its food plant, grows into a large shrub or tree, 

 bearing foliage all the year round. 



In Algeria, Paraguay, Corrientes, Monte Video and similar 

 localities it has been introduced with success. The cocoon 

 resembles much that of Cynthia^ but is smaller and redder; 

 the silk is much the same also in quality and appearance. 



Another species, the Bomhyx Hesperus, from Cayenne, 

 feeding on the cafe du diable, has been classed for its silk 

 with Cynthia and Ricinus, But a Bomhyx from Senegal, 

 called Faidherhia Bauhiniwy feeding on the jujube tree, 

 produces cocoons more easily reeled, and well spoken of for 

 strength, elasticity and brilliancy. 



At Madagascar, a silkworm, probably the Borocera 

 Madagasca/'ensis, of Boisduval, has been rudely cultivated 

 for years on the stools of the Cystisus Cajanus. The silk is 

 said to be strong but wanting in gloss. 



A species from Uruguay, in Central America, is reported 

 to be found in great abundance on a species of Mimosa, 

 producing a very fine and pure silk; it has been called 

 Bomhyx Fauvetyi. 



A species was sent to me by Dr. Hooker, from Caraccas, 

 Venezuela, feeding on the latropa grossignifolia. The 

 cocoons were formed of a large, coarse, yellowish-grey silk, 

 too brittle in substance to be of commercial utility. 



Cocoons have been sent to me of Pachypusa effusa, 

 recently discovered in abundance in the neighbourhood of 

 Graham's Town, Cape of Good Hope, feeding on the Mimosa 

 thorn. The silk, however, seems to be very inferior. 



Another wild silkworm has been reported to me as feeding 

 on the Banian fig-tree, which grows wild in British 



