130 bombycidjs:. 



black, or yellow with a round black spot on each 

 segment; the head, a transverse oval spot on the 

 segment behind it, the membranous legs, anal seg- 

 ment, and horn, in every case remaining ferru- 

 ginous. Some of these states are represented on 

 Plate I. : figs. 1 and 2, the larva when rather more 

 than half grown ; fig. 3, the full grown larva, after 

 shedding its spines. On the same plate we have 

 represented some other remarkable forms of the 

 caterpillars of exotic moths. Fig. 4 is that of the 

 species named Bomhyx molina by Cramer, and 

 figured in his 302d plate, E. F. Fig. 5 is the cater- 

 pillar of Phal. Bombyx Nesea of Stoll, remarkable 

 for the brilliancy of its colours and a long dorsal 

 horn projecting forwards. Fig. 6 is the caterpil- 

 lar of Bombyx netrix of the same author, the 

 moth of which is figured by Cramer on plate 307, 

 fig.B. 



The insects of this extensive family are called, 

 par excellence, silk-spinning moths, because they pro- 

 duce silk in greater profusion than any other lepi- 

 doptera. They may be said to be almost the only 

 insects, except bees, which it has been thought worth 

 while to cultivate and domesticate on account of 

 their utility to man. Besides the common silk-moth 

 (B. mori), a great variety of other kinds are culti- 

 vated in various quarters of the world. Some of 

 these we have figured and described. The great 

 obstacle experienced in rendering their produce ser- 

 viceable, is the extreme difficulty in unwinding the 

 silk from the cocoou. owing to the tenacious quality 



