30 Remarks on the Silks of Assam. [Jan. 



From fourth moulting to beginning of cocoon, 10 



In the cocoon, 20 



As a moth, 6 



Hatching of the eggs, 10 



66 



On being hatched the worm is about a quarter of an inch long, it 

 appears composed of alternate black and yellow rings ; as it increases 

 in size the former are distinguished, as six black moles, in regular 

 lines on each of the twelve rings which form its body. The colors 

 gradually alter as it progresses, that of the body becoming lighter, 

 the moles sky-blue, then red with a bright gold-colored ring round 

 each. When full grown the worm is above four inches long ; its 

 colors are most brilliant and varied in shades : the body appears 

 transparent and is of a very light yellow or dark green color, with a 

 brown and a yellow streak at the sides ; in the latter the breathing 

 holes are distinguished by a black speck : the moles are red and have 

 each four sharp prickles and a few black hairs : the head and claws are 

 of a light brown, the holders green and covered with short black 

 hair; the last pair have a black ring on the outside. On being tapped 

 with the finger the body renders a hollow sound ; by the sound it 

 is ascertained whether they have come down for want of leaves on the 

 tree, or from their having ceased feeding. 



The chrysalis not being soon killed by exposure to the sun, when 

 they have many cocoons they put them on stages, cover them up 

 with leaves and burn grass under them ; the cocoons are then boiled 

 for about an hour in a solution of the potash made from the dried 

 stalks of rice, they are then taken out and laid on cloth folded over 

 to keep them warm ; from this they are taken as required and thrown 

 in hot water (not over the fire) after the floss has been removed with 

 the hand. The instrument used for winding off the silk is the coarsest 

 imaginable : a thick bamboo about three feet long is split in two, and 

 the pieces driven equally in the ground two feet apart : over the 

 interior projection of one of the knots is laid a stick, to which is fixed, 

 a little on one side, a round piece of plank about one foot in diameter 

 — the rotary motion is given by jerking this axle, on which the thread 

 rolls itself: in front of the vessel holding the cocoons a stick is 

 fixed horizontally for the thread to travel upon. Two persons are 

 employed — one attending the cocoons, the other jerks the axle with 

 the right hand and with the same hand directs the thread up the left 

 forearm, so that it is twisted in coming down again towards the hand ; 

 the left hand directs the thread over the axle. Fifteen cocoons is the 



