SILK-PRODUCING LEPIDOPTERA. 275 



the generic name of Bomhyx, the description given by Dr. Heifer 

 appKes rather to a species of Ocinara. Dr. Heifer calls it the 

 Goree silkworm ; and Mr. Hugon, Deomooga silkworm. It is 

 said to be found between Assam and Sylhet." — Capt. Hutton. 



In his report on ' Silk in Assam,' dated February 29th, 1884, 

 Mr. E. Stack, Director of Agriculture, speaks as follows respect- 

 ing this species : — '' This silkworm {Bomhyx religioscB) is called 

 Deomuga on account of its large size. It is the largest of all 

 silkworms ; it attains a length of six and one-half inches ; it is 

 also the handsomest." Mr. Buckingham speaks of it thus : — 

 " This silkworm lives on the sum {Machilus odoratissima) , some- 

 times with the common Muga. In the second and third stages 

 it is of remarkable beauty, with rows of turquoise blue on the 

 sides. In the fourth stage the blue spots disappear and golden 

 yellow spots replace them. On each side of the body there are 

 laands or stripes of all the colours of the rainbow, which make 

 this silkworm by far superior to all others in beauty." The 

 Deomuga lives, it is said, thirty days, and spins its cocoon in 

 three days. The moth emerges at the end of fifteen days in hot 

 weather, and at the end of thirty days during the cold season ; 

 the moth lives four days. The cocoon is large (3 in. by 1^- in.) ; 

 it produces a large quantity of strong and coarse silk. The 

 thread of the Deomuga is employed in Bengal to make fishing 

 lines. At Cachar the Deomuga lives on Ficiis indica, and on the 

 Pipal (Ficus religiosa). It is found generally in the valley of 

 Assam. 



Ocinara lida, Moore. This species is found in Mussoorie. 

 The larva, which resembles that of a geometer, lives on Ficus 

 venosa and the wild fig tree. It spins a small white cocoon on a 

 leaf or on a stone at the foot of the tree ; the cocoon is too small 

 to be of any utility. — Capt. Hutton. 



Ocinara lactea, Hutton. This species is also found at 

 Mussoorie, and it lives on Ficus venosa, spinning in a leaf a 

 small and curious yellow cocoon which is surrounded by a yellow 

 silk net-work. The larva is smooth, whilst that of 0. lida is 

 hairy. — Capt Hutton. 



Ocinara comma, Hutton. The moth of this species is white, 

 with a dark mark having the shape of a comma on the disc 

 of the four wings. It is found in the Doon, at about 5500 feet 

 above Mussoorie. 



Trilocha varians, Moore. A small species, discovered at 

 Canara, and by M. Grote at Calcutta. It is useless as a silkworm. 



Ehodia newara. a very interesting species, with a curiously 

 shaped cocoon, which is green. The larva feeds on weeping 

 willow. 



Ehodia fugax. A species from Japan, similar to Rhodia 

 neivara but somewhat smaller. Feeds on all species of Salix. 

 Easily reared last year by me and several of my correspondents 



