46 On the indigenous Silkworms of India. [Jan. 



towards the extremity of the body. The first looks like two, which 

 run together, the second is the smallest. 



/ of a uniform yellow color, only the outward margin of the 

 wings is brownish, and a transversal line turns over the wings. The 

 glass eyes are wanted, one of the three is a vestige, instead of the 

 two others are two brown spots to be observed. 



In those specimens which I saw were gradual transitions from dark 

 brown to light yellow in different individuals to be observed, but 

 always were the females much darker. 



This is likewise a valuable discovery of Captain Jenkins in Assam, 

 where it lives on the soon tree, but seems to be not much used. 



11. Henry Creighton, Esq. of Malda, mentions another silk- 

 worm : — 



" There is a cocoon produced wild upon the mango tree, which 

 the people of Malda gather and mix with Arrindy cocoons in spinning." 

 This species seems to have remained hitherto unobserved. 



There is no doubt, that in India exist some more insects, which 

 furnish this precious material. The repeated and so often frustrated 

 endeavours of ingenious men in Europe would certainly find in India 

 an ample and highly remunerating field in this branch of speculation. 



It would be very interesting to collect all moths which form cocoons, 

 amounting, to judge by analogy, probably to upward of 150 species, 

 to watch their natural economy, and to send specimens of each cocoon 

 to Europe, to be there attentively examined. 



Many have made the objection that the silk of the Indian species 

 is much inferior. 



This is yet an undecided question. The mulberry silkworm dege- 

 nerates if not properly attended to. What has been done to raise the 

 indigenous species from the state of their natural inferiority ? Very 

 much depends upon the cultivation of the worms in houses ; 2, the 

 method of feeding them, selecting that vegetable substance, not which 

 gratifies the best their taste, but which contributes to form a finer 

 cocoon ; and 3, from the first chemical operations employed before 

 the working of the rough material. But even if the raw material 

 would not be capable of a higher degree of cultivation, the demand 

 for it would, notwithstanding, never cease in Europe. All silk pro- 

 duced in Hindustan has hitherto found a ready and profitable market 

 in Calcutta, and the demand is always greater than the supply. 

 And that really the roughest stuff of the Arrindy silkworm is appre- 

 ciated in England, may I be permitted to conclude the present article 

 with the following fact. 



