250 THE INSECT WORLD. 
very similar in every respect to that of the Cynthia. The rearing 
of this worm could never attain to any great importance in 
France, on account of the necessity there is of renewing the 
plantations of the castor-oil plant each year. It would, however, 
afford an additional source of income to the farmers in the south 
of France, who cultivate the castor-oil plant with a view to sell- 
ing its seeds, which are much used in pharmacy. 
Nearly allied to the genus Attacus, which furnishes us with all 
these precious auxiliaries to the mulberry silkworm, are a great 
number of other species, both indigenous to Europe, and exotic, 

Fig. 229.—Saturnia pavonia-major. 
mostly remarkable for their great size, and a few of which are 
common in this country. 
Fig. 229 is the largest European moth, but never found far- 
ther north than the latitude of Paris.. Its wings are brown, 
waved, and variegated with grey. Hach of them has a large 
black eye-shaped spot, surrounded by a tawny circle, surmounted 
by one white semicircle, and by another of a reddish hue, the 
