152 Silkworms in India. [Vol. L 



most of which are only reared for seed. Unlike the Best, however, it 

 thrives best in the hot weather. The cocoons, which are generally 

 yellow, at least externally, are somewhat larger than Desi cocoons, but 

 the fibre has less elasticity and brilliancy. The moth is milky white 

 in colour, the caterpillar is milky white with two black spots on each 

 segment ; it is reared like the Desi, of which it appears to be little more 

 than an artificial variety. 



BOMBYX ARRACANENSIS. 1 



Or Nya paw. 



This is a multivoltine mulberry silkworm closely allied to the Pm'and 

 Madrassi of Bengal ; it is reared in Burma. 



The following account of it is taken from Manuel's paper published 

 in the Journal, Agri- Horticultural Society, India : — 



"Bombyx arracanensis. — The domesticated silkworm of British Burma was 

 named by Captain Hutton, who believed it to be a species distinct from any of those 

 domesticated in Bengal. 



" Silk-growing is a profitable occupation in this province ; nevertheless it is 



not followed largely The industry has its chief seats at Tharrawaddyi 



Prome, Thayetinyo, and Toungoo. Spinners and weavers of silk are found in other 

 places, as in Henzada, Shwegyin, Tavoy, and Mergui, but the occupation of 

 breeding, with few exceptions, is confined to the higher latitudes of the country, 

 on the slopes of the Pegu and Arakan Yomas. 



" The chief food-plants are the red and white mulberry, the latter being preferred. 

 But the Agricultural Department has lately introduced the Philippine variety, which 

 seems likely to be an improvement upon the white. 



" The local worm is multivoltine, and completes its cycle of existence in from 

 32 to 43 days. The length of the cycle, however, depends on the season of the year ; 

 it is longer in the cool weather and shorter during the warm ; the silk yield of the 

 cool weather is, however, finer than at other timeB. The average weight of a single 

 fresh cocoon is 12 grains ; and the seed, as the eggs are commercially termed, are 

 sold in the bazaar. 



"It takes the female moth one or two days to deposit all her eggs, which average 

 from 200 to 250. The pieces of cloth on which the eggs are laid are put away 

 till the sixth day, when they are taken out and inspected. By this time the worms 

 have matured in the eggs, which have changed colour from white to deep yellow, 



1 Bombyx arracanensis, Hutton, Trana. Ent. Soc, Lond. (3), ii, p. 313 (1864-6). 

 „ „ „ Journ. Agri.-Horti. Soc. India, iii, p. 125 (1871). 



„ „ British Burma Gazetteer, 1, p. 412 (1880). 



„ „ Moore, Wardle's Wild Silks of India, p. 3 (1881). 



„ „ Manuel, Journ. Agri.-Horti. Soc. India, N. S., VII, p. 291 



(1882-86). 

 „ „ Report of the Lyons Laboratoire, D' etudes de la soie, p. 10 



(1886). 

 M ,. Roudot, L'art de la soie, ii, p. 483 (1887). 



