1837.] On the indigenous Silkivorms of India. 43 



the month of September, more than 3000 cocoons, which I permitted 

 to slip out, and had ample opportunity of studying them. 



Michael Atkinson, Esq. from Jangypur says, that this species 

 cannot be domesticated, because the moths take flight, before the 

 females are fecundated. This is against my experience : I kept them 

 under a musquito curtain to prevent their evasion, there they were 

 impregnated readily by the males, and deposited every where many 

 thousand eggs, and the young caterpillars issued the tenth day. 

 Therefore the fear entertained of the difficulty in this respect seems 

 to be easily overcome. 



Hitherto has this silkworm never been reared, but millions of 

 cocoons are annually collected in the jungles and brought to the 

 silk factories near Calcutta, for instance Dhaniakhdli ; but the principal 

 place of their manufacture is at Bhagelpur. In other parts as at 

 Jangypur the people gather them from the trees and transplant 

 them on the Assem tree, (Terminalia alata, Roxb.) which growing 

 near the houses enables them easily to watch the caterpillars, which 

 are eagerly searched out and devoured in the day time by crows, and 

 at night by bats, &c. 



The natives distinguish two varieties, the bughy and the jaroo, but 

 they are the same species. 



They feed most commonly in the wild state on the bair tree, 

 (Zizyphus jujuba,) but like also and indeed prefer the Terminalia alata 

 and Bombax heptaphyllum. 



This is the same moth which is also found sometimes in Assam and 

 which Mr. Hugon calls Kontkuri mooga. 



Though it was known in Europe by the publications of Dr. Rox- 

 burgh and Dr. Buchanan, that the Tusseh and Arrindy silkworms 

 are existing and indigenous, yet, strange enough, it was hitherto 

 unknown, (at least with us on the continent,) that for some years past, 

 their silk w r as only in small quantity exported to England; this 

 silk having been considered as an inferior quality to that produced 

 by Bombyx mori. The question of the possibility of acclimation of 

 these larvae in other congenial climates has ex ipso never been raised. 



7. Another Saturnia distinct from all others (alis inferioribus in 

 caudam desinentibus) ; it resembles some species which I saw brought 

 from Seva, ? Java. 



I could only procure the wings of this remarkable insect. 

 The moth comes from the neighborhood of Comercolly. 



8. Saturnia Assa7nensis, (mihi.) — Long. alar. sup. extensarum 60 

 — 65 linear. 



g 2 



