354 THE TUSSEH SILK-MOTH. 



September, remaining so till the May following ; whilst those that enter 

 the chrysalis state in July, come out in three weeks. Many of the females 

 lay eggs in eight or ten hours after quitting the chrysalis ; others, again, do 

 not until the following night, or longer. In ten days the young larvae 

 make their appearance, and feed on the Asseen and Saul trees. In about 

 three weeks from the time of their exclusion from the egg, they attain 

 their full size, and in eight or ten days more prepare for their transforma- 

 tion into the chrysalis. The caterpillar commences its operations by 

 drawing a few leaves slightly together, as if to screen it from observation. 

 It then spins a strong cord composed of many threads, altogether about 

 the thickness of a crow-cpiill, at the end of which it weaves the cocoon. 

 This is so transparent for the first six-and-thirty hours, that the larva may 

 be distinctly perceived at work in the interior. After that time, the cocoon 

 gradually acquires consistence by the continued industry of the caterpillar, 

 and becomes quite opaque from the addition of a glutinous liquid with 

 which it moistens the whole. When that dries, the cocoon appears as if 

 covered with white powder, and in the course of a couple of days becomes 

 perfectly hard. The moth generally deposits its eggs within a few yards 

 of the cocoon : these the villagers collect and keep in their houses till the 

 young caterpillars come forth, when they are placed on the Asseen trees in 

 the jungles, the proprietors remaining to protect them from the birds, and 

 to bring home the cocoons when perfect. The people who rear these 

 silkworms are of the Sontal and Bhouree castes, and practise many super- 

 stitious ceremonies while tending them in the jungles. 



From the experiments of M. Perottet of Pondicherry, it would appear 

 that the statement that this moth cannot be domesticated is fabulous, as he 

 succeeded in inducing it to breed in a state of captivity, and obtained 

 sound and productive eggs. He managed, during a year of abundant rain, 

 and when there was a continued damp atmosphere, to obtain four genera- 

 tions of these worms dining the year. M. Perottet forwarded to France 

 living cocoons of this species, and several generations were reared there, 

 being fed on the leaves of the common oak, which were greedily eaten by 

 them. During the early part of 1859 he sent five different despatches of 

 living cocoons of this worm to France, which arrived safely and were doing 

 well. 



The cocoons found upon the Terminalia are always considered stoutest 

 and strongest, while those .on the Jujube are the weakest. Fifty cocoons 

 obtained from the former tree will weigh one French pound. These 

 cocoons are exceedingly rich in silk ; they reel by means of an alkali or 

 any other solvent with great facility, and to the very end. The silk they 

 produce is very elastic and of singular brilliancy, but dark in colour. 



There has been some discussion as to the distribution of this species of 

 moth in India ; the difficulties having arisen mainly from the existence 

 of other and allied species in Darjeeling and other remote localities. A 

 true species of Tusseh moth has been found sparingly in the Deyrah Doon, 

 and named Anther cea Sivalensis. 



