238 



Bombyx mori, Fabricius, Spec. Ins. ii. p. 180; Mant. Ins. ii. 

 p. 114 ; Ent. Syst. iii. i. p. 431 ; Godart, Lep. de France, iv. p. 153. 

 pi. 14. f. 3, 4 ; Heifer, Journ, Asiatic Soc. Beng. vi. p. 40 ; Walker, 

 List Lep. Het. Brit. Mus. pt. 6, p. 1505; Royle, Report on the 

 Paris Universal Exhib. pt. 3. p. 216 ; Moore, Catal. Lep. Mus. India 

 House, ii. p. 374. 



Sericaria mori, Blanchard, Gay, Hist, de Chile, Zool. vii. p. 55. 



The Common Domestic, or Chinese "Silkworm Moth. 



Pat of Bengal, Royle. 



Hab. China (domesticated in China, Siam, India, Persia, France, 

 Italy, &c.). 



In a ' Dissertation on the Silk Manufacture and the Cultivation of 

 the Mulberry,' translated from the Chinese works of Tseu-kvpang- 

 k'he, called also Paul Siu, a Colao, or Minister of State in China, 

 and recently published at Shanghse, and reprinted in 1858 at Madras, 

 it is stated, that " the earliest allusion to the mulberry and silk met 

 vi^ith in the ancient writings of the Chinese is in the Historical 

 Classic, a work which existed before the days of Confucius, because 

 it is quoted by him, and which embraces the history of China from 

 B.C. 2356 to B.C. 722, a period of 1634 years. In the former part 

 of that period, we have the allusions referred to, recorded in the sec- 

 tion called the tribute of Yu, who flourished 2200 years before 

 Christ. In his days the mulberry is spoken of as a well-known 

 production, and silk as obtained therefrom ; so that it must have 

 been discovered before his days. The usual tradition is, that it was 

 discovered during the reign of Hwangte (b.c. 2640) by his queen." 

 The passages in the Historical Classic in which references to the 

 mulberry and silk are made are as follows : — In giving an account 

 of Yen-chow, the south-western part of the modern Shan-tung, the 

 writer says, " The mulberry region having been supphed with silk- 

 worms, the people descended from the hills, and dwelt in the plains." 

 On this the commentator remarks : — " The nature of the silkworm 

 is to abhor dampness ; hence it was not till the waters were abated 

 that the silkworms could be reared. The nine regions of China 

 equally depended upon this source of wealth ; but the Yen province 

 alone is mentioned, because it was best adapted for the mulberry." 

 The Classic goes on to say that the tribute of Yen- chow consisted 

 in varnish and silk, while their tribute-baskets were filled with wove 

 stuffs of various colours (see translation of the Shoo-king, pp. 91, 92). 

 In speaking of the production of Tsing-chow, the north-eastern part 

 of Shan-tung, the Classic says that " from the valley of the Tae 

 mountain they brought silk and hemp ; while their tribute-baskets 

 were stored with the wild mulberry and silk." The silk produced 

 from the mountain mulberry is said by the commentator to be so 

 tenacious, that it was peculiarly adapted for harps and guitars (see 

 translation of the Shoo-king, p. 93). 



Black silk and chequered sarcenets are spoken of as the produc- 

 tion of Tseu-chow, the southern part of Shan-tung and the northern 

 part of Keang-soo (see translation of the Shoo-king, p. 96). 



The productions of King-chow, the modern Hook-wang, where silk 



