No. 2. 1 Wild Silk Insects of India. 81 



The insect is said to g-o through a series of generations in the year, 

 each generation taking about two months to complete, and the rains 

 broods being the strongest and producing most silk. 



The moths from which the figures were made were determined by 

 Mr. H. J. Elwes. 



Cricula drepanoides, Moore. Plate 10, Jig. 2. 



This insect differs very markedly from C. trifenestraia in general 

 coloration; it is recorded as occurring in Sikkim, from which locality also 

 the Indian Museum possesses specimens. Nothing seems to be known 

 on the subject of its habits. It is presumably very rare. 



The moth from which the figure was taken was determined by Mr. H. 

 J. Elwes. 



RhodIa newara, Moore. Plate 11. 



This fine'species is common in Sikkim, where it spins a brilliant green 

 cocoon, with slit-like opening at the upper extremity, through which 

 the moth makes its escape, and drain-like passage at the bottom, which 

 is supposed to serve for the escape of any water which may happen to 

 enter the cocoon during the rainy season owing to the imperfect 

 closing of the upper slit. According to Moller the insect is found at an 

 elevation of from 4,000 to 7,000feet in Sikkim, and goes through but 

 one generation in the year; it hibernates in the Qgg ; the larvae 

 emerge early in the spring, and finish spinning their cocoons by the 

 end of May; the moth appears during the first half of November at 

 5,000 feet, and somewhat earlier at higher elevations ; the larvae feed 

 upon the weeping willow and wild walnut. 



The specimen from which the figure of the moth was taken has been 

 determined by Mr. H. J. Elwes; the cocoon was furnished by the late 

 Mr. Otto Moller. 



Saturnia stoliczkana Felder. Plate 13, fig. 4. 



This species was figured by Felder (ReiseNovara, Lep., pi. 87, fig. 3, 

 1864 — 75) from Ladak. Nothing seems to have been recorded about it, 

 but in the Indian Museum are some broken wings from an elevation of 

 10,500 feet in Lahoul, and also a specimen from Kulu, which answer to 

 the figure. 



Saturnia cidosa Moore. 



S. cidosa (Moore, Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond.(3), ii, p. 423, pi. 23, fig. 

 2, 1864 — 66) is represented in the Museum collections by a smgle moth 

 from Sikkim. According to Hutton (Journ. Agri. Hort. Soc. Ind., iii^ 

 1871, p. 125) it is closely allied to 8, pyretorum. 



