07 



began spinning its cocoon (No. 1) the same evening, which, however, it did not com- 

 plete till the third or fourth day after, being engaged in spinning, with scarcely any 

 intermission, during the whole of that time. Having been kept in a warm room 

 through the winter, it was evolved on the 7th of April, 1850, seven months and 

 nineteen days from the commencement of its cocoon. In its natural state, however, 

 it does not make its appearance till June, remaining, therefore, nearly ten months in 

 the pupa. The cocoon (of which the accompanying specimens are examples) 

 contains an immense quantity of silk, and is double — a wise precaution against the 

 severity of the Canadian winters: the outer case is of a very close and stiff texture; 

 but the inner or true cocoon is rather finer, and is covered on the outside with a 

 quantity of rough silk, whilst the side next the pupa is very smooth and polished. 

 Could it be made useful it would be a great boon, as it must be a durable material 

 indeed to resist the wind and rain of ten months, or of even two or three years, as I 

 have found these cocoons adhering as strongly as ever to the tree the following spring 

 after the escape of the moth. 



"Even if the cocoons could not be unwound they might be carded and spun in 

 the same manner as they do those of Bombyx Cynthia, &c., in India. These cocoons 

 are common about Sorel and Montreal, and' still more so about Toronto, in Upper 

 Canada, and are very easily found, as they are spun on the smaller branches of 

 various trees, and are very conspicuous when the leaves have fallen : they are most 

 abundant on maple, but I have found them also on apple, fir, &c., and on palings 

 and dead stalks of weeds. It appears to feed on a variety of plants, and amongst 

 others I have reason to think on the choke-cherry {Prunus serotina), of which several 

 plants, reared from seed sent from Canada, are now flourishing in the garden here, 

 and could be grown to any extent required. I have seen it stated that it feeds on the 

 wild American plum (Prunus pennsj/lvanica), and that it has been occasionally reared 

 on apple-leaves. There would, therefore, be no trouble in finding food for it in this 

 country ; and I do not think there would be much difficulty in introducing it, as the 

 cocoons could be gathered in any number in Canada and the United States, and sent 

 home by steamer, packed in air-tight boxes, as sea air, from my own experience, 

 seems to be fatal to them. It would be hardly possible to send the eggs across the 

 Atlantic, as only two months intervene between the appearance of the moth and 

 the larva going into cocoon, it is manifest the eggs must be hatched soon after they 

 are laid : these eggs are large and oval in shape, and pure white. If the moths, 

 when bred in England, could be got to pair, there would then be no further obstacle 

 ill obtaining a supply of silk by the end of the following August after their arrival. 



" This and the other magnificent species of Saturnia inhabiting North America 

 present a strange appearance, when darting past in the dusk of a summer's evening, 

 and are extremely difficult to capture, unless they happen to be found at rest during the 

 day. Mr. Gosse does not appear to have been acquainted with this fine moth, for, 

 although he mentions several other species of Saturnia in his ' Canadian Naturalist,' 

 lie does not notice it. 



" In conclusion, should the subject be thought worthy of the consideration of this 

 Society, I shall be happy to obtain cocoons from Canada, and forward some to any 

 entomologist wishing to make the experiment." 



Beferences to numbers attached to the cocoons were read. 



