9270 Entomological Society. 
Semul or cotton tree (Bombax heptaphyllum); Koossum or bastard safflower 
(Carthamus tinctorius, Linn.) 
“The tusseh silkworm is reared in considerable quantities in Maunbhoom, Ban- 
coorah and Beerbhoom, aud its silk, both in the raw and made-up states, forms one 
of the principal articles of export from these and adjoining districts. In Maunbhoom 
the arum tree is planted by the natives in small plots near their villages for the pur- 
pose of affording food to the larvae, and the branches are annually lopped off, to prevent 
the larve from getting beyond the sight and reach of those who watch them. The 
larve when first born are placed on these trees, and forage for themselves until the 
time arrives for them to change into the pupa-state, their keepers merely keeping off 
birds, ants, snakes, squirrels and bats, all of which are said to feed on the worm, 
though I am inclined to doubt its being the case with the last three animals. ‘The 
tusseh-breeders in Maunbhoom are either Bonries’ or Sonthals: many of them culti- 
vate lac as well, which also requires to be watched, and as this insect thrives best on 
the same tree as the tusseh, viz. the arsun, they are able to combine the two pursuits, 
Iam not aware that any animals prey upon the lac insect; ants are very fond of them, 
but I faney only on account of the sweet fluid exuded by this as well as other species 
of Aphid, and not with murderous intent. These are obliged to be watched, in order 
to keep them secure from the thieving propensities of the other villagers.” 
After quoting at some length from Dr. Walker's paper (wbi supra), and noticing 
that many of the facts therein recorded applied equally well to other parts of the 
country than the territory of the Nizam, the author preceeds:— 
“In Maunbbhoom the cocoons are sold at the rate of eighty to one hundred per 
tupee by the tusseh-breeders. I have found it quite easy to rear the tusseh worm in 
captivity. Having procured a batch of some fifty fresh cocoons from the Maunbhoom 
jungles in April, 1864, I proceeded to try the experiment, and being of opinion that this 
species might be easily acclimatized on the mulberry in England, sent thirty-five 
cocoons, through Mr. F. Buckland, to the Acclimatization Society, as well as some of 
the eggs laid by the moths that came out of the remaining cocoons, I have not as yet 
(July 18, 1864) had the advice of their safe receipt. With regard to those I have 
reared myself, I take the following extracts from my note-book:— 
“On the 4th and 5th of June the moths begau to come out of their cocoons, and 
continued to do so nearly every damp and rainy night afterwards. Out of my whole 
batch only one had died. They invariably come out at night, and seem strictly noc- 
turnal in their habits in the imago state. The average expanse of wing of the female 
is 7 inches to 74 inches, and of the male 6} inches to 6} inches. The colour of the 
cocoons, and of both sexes of the moths, varies considerably; the males are generally 
of a dark fulvous-buff, fulvous-gray and light slaty gray colour; the females fulvous- 
gray, light gray or bright grayish yellow. The sexes copulate freely in confinement, 
always at night, and generally the second nigbt after birth. The females do not try 
to fly away, though the males do, and damage themselves much in the attempt.” They 
seem to prefer hanging bead downwards, and from the under side of a leaf: this 
probably is a wise provision of Nature to keep them hidden during their diurnal sleep 
by the leaf they may be on, from their numerous winged enemies. Of all the cocoons 
I had only one came out during the day, and that early in the morning; they mostly 
appear between midnight aud 4 p.m. The moths are very tenacious of life; after being 
kept twelve hours under chloroform they recover, and a pin dipped in prussic acid and 
