2192 The Zoologist — June, 1870. 



use of the machines : the silk would then be clean and uniform, and would rise 

 in value, soon making up by its increased price for the first outlay in 

 machinery. Some modifications in the European machines are considered 

 necessary, and it must be borne in mind that the women are much smaller 

 in stature than the European reelers. The shipments of silk from the 1st of 

 July, 1869, to the end of the year were about 6,850 bales, against 12,000 in 

 the same period in 1868, and 5,000 in 1867 ; but there was no dearth of silk 

 in the market, and the crop of. 1869 seemed to be as abundant as that of 1868. 

 One cause of the deterioration of the silk is the immense export of eggs of the 

 best quality, foreigners offering high prices for the cards. The three great 

 steam-boat lines canied to France and Italy in 1868 2,300,000 cards, and in 

 1869 1,390,000 cards. The universal ravages of the maggot known as the 

 uji have much to do with this considerable decrease. It is believed that the 

 fly fastens upon the young silkworm, and, pricking it, deposits its egg or eggs 

 •within the skin ; adipose matter is formed round the egg, and when the egg is 

 hatched the maggot feeds upon this matter, and, increasing in size, penetrates 

 more and more into the intestines of the silkworm. The Japanese throw away 

 all the uji, believing them to be dying or dead; but the uji does not die, but 

 turns into a fly : the persons employed should be enjoined to destroy every 

 uji as soon as it emerges from the cocoon, a course which would very materially 

 diminish the number of flies in the following spring. Also, when the silkworms 

 are going to spin, the Japanese should separate all those cocoons which have 

 the dark mark showing that they contain uji. These should be suffocated, 

 thus destroying the uji; the cocoons would be reserved for reeling. The 

 disease would thus be arrested, and, it would seem, eventually eradicated. 



Papers read. 



The following papers were read : — 



"Descriptions of twenty-two new Species of Equatorial Lepidoptera " ; by 

 Mr. Hewitson. 



" Descriptions of a new Genus and four new Species of Calopterygidae, and 

 of a new Genus and Species of Gomphidae"; by Mr. M'Lachlan. 



" On a new Genus and some new Species of Copridse (Coleoptera-Lamelli- 

 cornia) " ; by Mr. H. W. Bates. 



" Descriptions of some Genera and Species of Australian Curculionidae "; by 

 Mr. Pascoe. 



Catalogue of British Neuroptera. 



" A Catalogue of British Neuroptera," compiled by Mr. M'Lachlan, the 

 family Ephemeridse by the Rev. A. E. Eaton, and published by the Society, 

 being the first part of the proposed General Catalogue of the Insects of the 

 British Isles, was on the table. — J. W. D. 



