ON SERICICULTURE. 155 



Of B. Polyphemus a few eggs reached England ; the 

 larvae fed up \\e\\ on oak, and about a dozen cocoons have 

 been obtained, but the perfect insects emerged in the autumn; 

 the larva and imago are particularly handsome, especially 

 the former. In 1870 may be expected a larger supply of 

 the eggs and cocoons of this race, the silk of which is con- 

 sidered the most valuable of all the American species. 



Of B. Cecropia a great number of eggs were distributed, 

 and a large number ofcocoons were produced, notwithstanding 

 the cool summer we have experienced. This is evidently a 

 hardy insect and easily reared in England, but more attractive 

 for the beauty of the larva in its latter stages, and for the 

 gorgeous magnificence and great size of the imago, than for 

 the material it spins. The cocoon is only suitable for carding 

 pui'poses, though being very large it might be utilized if pro- 

 duced easily in considerable quantity at a trifling expense. 



Eggs and cocoons of Actias Luna^ Ceratocampa im- 

 perialis and C. regalis^ and other rare and handsome North 

 American Lepidoptera, will be sent over to England, for 

 trial of acclimatization, in 1870 and succeeding; seasons. 



Trinity House, Colchester, 

 December 1st, 1869. 



