30 



different stages of this process, the dates and appearance of the changes, and, in short, 

 all the leading phenomena of the case: — 



'"Through the laudable efforts of Mr. Piddington, of Calcutta, aided by the 

 directors of the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Company, after many unsuccessful 

 attempts, his Excellency the Governor has succeeded in obtaining sound eggs of the 

 Assam silkworm, called in that country the Arrindy, Aria or Eria, and by naturalists 

 the Bombyx Cynthia and also Phalaena Cynthia. These eggs, which arrived in Malta 

 on the 2ud December, 1853, having been placed under the care of Dr. Frendo, M.D., 

 at St. Antonio, produced upwards of GOO worms. The first which were hatched died 

 apparently from cold. But after a fire was kept in the room, and the temperature at 

 between SS*!; and GSV of Fahrenheit's thermometer, very few died, and latterly none. 

 These worms were fed exclusively on the leaves of the castor-oil plant, the Ricinus 

 communis of botanists. 



" ' On the 18th January some were observed to change their colour, and became of 

 a light yellow. 



" ' On the 23rd January they underwent their second change ; they then assumed a 

 bluish green colour. 



" ' On the 28th January they commenced to undergo their third change. 



" ' On the 6th February they began the fourth mutation. 



" ' On the 8th February the first cocoon was observed. 



" ' On the 11th March fires iu the room were left off. 



" ' On the lOth March the worms were in the state of chrysalis. 



" ' On the 12ih April the first moth appeared, and 



" ' Ou the 17th April they began to Jay their eggs. 



" ' By the 7th of the present month the greater part of the moths died, after 

 depositing their eggs, the average duration of their lives having been about 14 days. 

 Twelve cocoons weighed 4 drachms and 25 grains : the average weight of a cocoon 

 according to this is l-12th of a grain.' '' 



"We have just been informed (May 9) that some of the eggs are hatched this 

 day. 



" In addition we republish, extracted from the above pamphlet, all the portion of 

 it relating to the Eria worm. It may be useful for those interested in the subject to 

 compare the series of phenomena observed iu Malta and iu India, and to note any 

 differences. It certainly is not unreasonable to anticipate much advantage from the 

 'Eria,' should the climate permit the establishment of this stranger among us. The 

 Palma-Christi grows readily in Malta, and it will be seen from the statements of the 

 pamphlet how great is the productive power of the worm, and how useful a manu- 

 facture can be derived from its produce, even under the disadvantage of its not being 

 yet 'wound off.' The last sentence quoted from the pamphlet seems particularly 

 worthy of attention. The Maltese, who have made so much of their cotton, will in 

 any case be able to turn to good purpose the durable produce of the Eria worm, and 

 should practical chemistry prove to have iu store the solution of the problem, how to 

 wind off' the silk without breaking, a new and most profitable channel for exertion 

 will have been opened to the patient and ingenious workers of these Islands."* 



* The matter referred to by the editor of the 'Malta Times' has already been 

 published in the ' Journal of the Society of Arts.' It will be found iu the number for 

 March 3rd of the present year, p. 263. 



