SILK-PRODUCING LEPIDOPTERA. 277 



The Cricula trifenestrata cocoons were between five and six 

 weeks on the voyage from Yercaud to London. In about three 

 weeks after their departure the moths commenced to emerge in 

 large quantities, but some died after the arrival of the cases in 

 London. The cocoons which had not hatched in transit died, or 

 did not produce the moths till some time later on; hence the 

 difficulty of obtaining fertile ova of this and other tropical species. 



Caligula simla, Westwood. The cocoon of this species, in 

 the form of a net-work, resembles in shape that of Cricula 

 trifenestrata, but it is larger and of a dark colour, almost black. 

 Some years ago, in 1878 I think, I received cocoons of this 

 species ; but all the chrysalides which could be seen moving 

 through the perforated cocoon died some time after. It is found 

 in Simla, at Mussoorie, and in the province of Kumaon, feeding 

 on walnut, Salix hahylonica, wild pear tree, &c. A similar 

 species is found in Japan, where it feeds on the chestnut tree. 

 This Japanese species is Caligula japonica, 



Caligula thibeta. Is found at Mussoorie, where it lives on 

 Andromeda ovalifolia, wild pear tree, and quince. It is also 

 found in the province of Kumaon. Its specific name is wrong, 

 as the insect never approaches Thibet. The cocoon is coarse, 

 and of a similar texture to that of C. simla. 



Neoris huttoni, Moore. A species discovered by Capt. 

 Hutton at Mussoorie, at about 6500 feet elevation, living on wild 

 pear. The larvae are found in ApriL The cocoon is a net-work, 

 and its silk of no use. 



Attacus ricini. The worm of this species produces the silk 

 known to the natives by the name of Arrindy silk. It is reared 

 on the castor-oil plant (Ricinus commujiis). The principal places 

 where this species is cultivated are Assam, East Bengal, Eung- 

 pore, and Dinagepore. The Mekirs, in the eastern part of 

 Bengal, possess a very fine race producing white silk. Attacus 

 ricini {Bomhyx arrindia) according to certain sericiculturists, is 

 no other than Attacus cynthia reared on Ricinus in a state of 

 domesticity. It is in Assam that this species is almost exclu- 

 sively cultivated, and, like the mulberry silkworm, it is also 

 cultivated in a state of domesticity, and bears the name of Eri, 

 a word which means Ricijius, The species lives also on the 

 Keseru {Heteropenex fragrans) ; there are also several other trees, 

 such as the Gulancha {Jatropha curcas), the Gamari {Gmelina 

 arhored)y and even, it is said, the Bogri or Ber {Zizyphus jujuba) , 

 on which the worm can be reared if the Ricinus happens to fail. 

 Several times live cocoons of Attacus ricini were sent to me from 

 Assam tied to a string placed across the box. The moths 

 emerged so rapidly during the voyage that sometimes they 

 paired, laid their eggs, and the young larvae were found dead and 

 dried up in the box. 



AcTiAS SELENE. A specics spread over India and the Island 



