SILK-PRODUCING LEPIDOPTERA. 237 



wings are also suffused with a distinct vinous shade more 

 resembling pernyi then roylei ; the shape of the wings also agrees 

 better with A. pernyi. On the other hand, the eyes resemble 

 those of roylei, but are considerably larger, the pupil especially 

 being as large as in pernyi, but the projection of the black outer 

 rim, so conspicuous in pernyi, is scarcely indicated. The other 

 markings of the wings are well defined, and resemble those of 

 A. roylei. On the under surface the insect agrees in colour and 

 markings with typical roylei, but the basal band is less distinct 

 and perhaps less waved, and the submarginal spots, dusted with 

 white and pink, are larger and more distinct. Just inside there 

 is a very faint dark stripe, more distinct on the right wing. In 

 roylei this is still more indistinct, whereas in pernyi it is well 

 marked, but closer to the spots. The antennae and body of the 

 hybrid are more like A. pernyi than A. roylei. The cocoon is 

 fully as large as that of roylei, but instead of there being a con- 

 siderable space between the outer and inner cocoon, there is 

 scarcely any interval between them. A. pernyi has a similar but 

 much smaller cocoon, and hence it would appear that that of the 

 hybrid would be of greater commercial value than either. — 



W. F. KiRRY." 



The following letter and description I received on Dec. 13th, 

 1882, from Mr. P. Moore, Curator of the Bethnal Green Museum, 

 and formerly of the India Museum : — 



*' Dear Sir, — Enclosed is a description of the imagos of your 

 hybrid roylei-pernyi , which I promised to send you. I was much 

 interested on my visit to you in August, and was astonished to 

 see with what facility the larvae of the various silk-producers can 

 be reared in the open air. Your larvae of cecropia, luna, selene, 

 roylei, and the hybrid roylei-pernyi, all appeared in a most 

 healthy condition. They could not have been better had they 

 been living in their native country. 



''Description of the hybrid, roylei-pernyi. —The imago, in point 

 of coloration, is intermediate between the two species. Both 

 sexes of the hybrid show the mealy olivaceous colour of the pure 

 roylei, dominated by a tinge of the ochraceous colours of pejiiyi ; 

 the ochraceous tinge, however, is brightest across the discal 

 area of both wings within the transverse band, and more 

 especially so in the female. The bands on both wings are more 

 strongly developed than in roylei, and more so even than in 

 pernyi ; the ocelli in both sexes are larger than in either roylei or 

 pernyi, the talcose central spot being much larger than in roylei, 

 but about the same size as in pernyi. The ocellus on the hind 

 wing differs from that of roylei, in having the upper curve some- 

 what extended upwards, thus giving it a slightly lobate form, as 

 in some female specimens of pernyi. Both sexes of the hybrid 

 are comparatively larger than the general size of roylei, and are 

 much larger iYid^n pernyi. — F. Moore." 



