Chap. VIII. THEIR DIFFERENCES. 317 



ever, is not the opinion of several capable judges who have 

 particularly attended to the cultivation of this insect in 

 France ; and hardly accords with some facts presently to be 

 given. 



The common silk-moth (Bombyx mori) was brought to Con- 

 stantinople in the sixth century, whence it was carried into 

 Italy, and in 1494 into France. 66 Everything has been 

 favourable for the variation of this insect. It is believed 

 to have been domesticated in China as long ago as 2700 B.C. 

 It has been kept under unnatural and diversified conditions 

 of life, and has been transported into many countries. There 

 is reason to believe that the nature of the food given to the 

 caterpillar influences to a certain extent the character of the 

 breed. 67 Disuse has apparently aided in checking the develop- 

 ment of the wings. But the most important element in the 

 production of the many now existing, much modified races, 

 no doubt has been the close attention which has long been 

 applied in many countries to every promising variation. 

 The care taken in Europe in the selection of the best cocoons 

 and moths for breeding is notorious, 68 and the production of 

 eggs is followed as a distinct trade in parts of France. I 

 have made inquiries through Dr. Falconer, and am assured 

 that in India the natives are equally careful in the process 

 of selection. In China the production of eggs is confined to 

 certain favourable districts, and the raisers are precluded by 

 law from producing silk, so that their whole attention may 

 be necessarily given up to this one object. 69 



The following details on the differences between the several 

 breeds are taken, when not stated to the contrary, from M. Eobinet's 

 excellent work, 70 which bears every sign of care and large experi- 

 ence. The eggs in the different races vary in colour, in shape 

 (being round, elliptic or oval), and in size. The eggs laid in June 

 in the south of France, and in July in the central provinces, do not 



66 Godron, ' De l'Espece,' 1859, torn. 68 See, for instance, M. A..de Quatre- 

 i. p. 460. The antiquity of the silk- fages' 'Etudes sur les Maladies actu- 

 worm in China is given on the elles du Ver a Soie,' 1859, p. 101. 

 authority of Stanislas Julien. 69 My authorities for the statements 



67 See the remarks of Prof. West- will be given in the chapter on Selec- 

 wood, Gen. Hearsey, and others, at tion. 



the meeting of the Entomolog. Soc. of "° 'Manuel de l'fiducateur de Vera 



Loudon, July, 1361. a Soie,' 1848. 



