108 ON SERICICULTURE. 



the segments; a whitish tint is now observed in patches; 

 sometimes, but rarely, some minute dusky specks are visible 

 at the flexures; the larva3 are flaccid and eat but little. If 

 muscular movement be made, as on the approach of a visitor, 

 the skin cracks, a pale turbid green fluid issues, the worm 

 shrinks, shrivels and decomposes rapidly. 



A third form attacks those nearly full grown or about to 

 spin. Minute dusky specks are visible on the whole body; 

 these rapidly increase and coalesce into brown blotches ; the 

 beautiful deep-green colour turns into a muddy green-yellow, 

 diarrhoea ensues ; the larvae cease to eat, the claspers retain 

 their grasp, but all muscular power being lost, the body hangs 

 an inert sack, full of decomposing fluids, which burst out at 

 the most convenient spot. In a few brief hours nothing re- 

 mains of the fine handsome larvae but a few dry brown skins. 



My own opinion is, that shade, moisture and a cool tem- 

 perature, with very free ventilation, are necessary to the 

 welfare of this creature. In its early life, in May, a tempe- 

 rature of 50° — 55° or 60° is desirable ; to be increased during 

 June to 6d° — 75°; but I think a higher temperature en- 

 dangeis the safety of the worm ; and this I believe to be 

 the chief reason why it has been reared successfully on the 

 Continent for several seasons, and then suddenly and entirely 

 failed.* For descriptions of the disease and success in rear- 

 ing the worm, vide Entomologist, Nos. 46, 56, 57, 58, 59; 

 Entomologist's Monthly Mag. No. 54 ; and my Report on 

 the Yama-Mai for 1868, now in the press. 



* It has been thought, by many experimenters, that this species would 

 be more easily reared out of doors on the living tree; but in 1868, 

 owing, I believe, to the excessive drought and heat, all their trials have 

 failed, and all the cocoons obtained were reared in-doors in a free ven- 

 tilation. 



