INTRODUCTION. 81 



any will supply them with a greater number of new 

 objects, or afford a wider field for interesting ob- 

 servation. The history of a large proportion of the 

 moths of which we possess figures and descriptions 

 in the perfect state, is entirely unknown to us. The 

 appearance of the larva, its habits, food, metamor- 

 phoses, &c. have either never been noticed or not 

 recorded. Of many, we are acquainted with only 

 one sex ; and in many cases, there is such a disparity 

 between the male and female, that there is reason to 

 believe that not a few, now regarded as distinct 

 species, stand merely in that relation to each other. 

 The subject, too, is far from being void of interest in 

 an economical point of view. There is every reason 

 to believe that there are indigenous moths in most 

 countries capable of affording excellent silk ; which, 

 even although it might not supersede that afforded 

 by the mulberry moth, might yet be converted to 

 many useful purposes. Although much, as will be 

 afterwards seen, has recently been done in India in 

 manufacturing silk from a great variety of species, 

 there is still strong inducement for further experi- 

 ments and investigation, particularly in reference to 

 those of large size, for if their produce could be 

 made available, it might be so managed as to obtain 

 it in almost any quantity. 



