OF INDIA AND ITS ADJACENT COUNTRIES. 413 



•worms differ only in size, as far as I can yet perceive." (Hutton.) The 

 Burra or large annual Pooloo supposed to be the same as the Italian, seems 

 to have been introduced into India about 1 20 years ago, but in what pre- 

 cise year, or by whom, is not ascertained. Cocoons spun in March and 

 April. The life of this worm is from forty -two to fifty days, and the 

 cocoon lasts from ten to fifteen days." (D. W. H. Speed.') 



7. Bombyx Huttoni (Westwood). 



Habitat. Forests of N.W. Himalaya. A wild mountain species, first 

 discovered by Captain Hutton at Mnssooree. The caterpillar is found 

 abundantly feeding on the indigenous mulberry, and is confined exclusively 

 to the forests of the N.W. Himalaya. Experiments made with this species 

 at Mussooree, writes Captain Hutton, have elicited the fact that little is to 

 be expected from its cultivation, as the worms can only be fed upon the 

 mulberry trees in the open air, and all attempts to domesticate it have 

 hitherto proved ineffectual ; the only mode of rearing it, would, conse- 

 quently be upon the trees, which would, however, be always uncertain in 

 its results. Silk could be produced, and of very good quality, although 

 scarcely in sufficient quantities to render it a lucrative speculation. The silk 

 produced by it is decidedly good, and produced in considerable quantities, 

 would undoubtedly be valuable, a ready market being available at twenty- 

 five rupees per seer. The worm, however, has hitherto proved so intrac- 

 table that it cannot be reared in the ordinary way in the house, and thrives 

 only upon the trees in the open air. "With a view to curb its restlessness 

 and wandering propensities, I, with some trouble, effected a cross between 

 it and Bombyx mori from Cashmere, but in every instance, with very few 

 exceptions, the eggs thus obtained proved unprolific, and the worms pro- 

 duced retained all the intractable habits of the wild species ; further cross- 

 ings might possibly correct this. It must be confessed, however, that the 

 trial with the worm has not been carried far enough to enable me to form 

 a decided opinion as to what may possibly be effected by further crosses, 

 and I have merely here shown the effects of the first cross from which 

 little could be extracted. The caterpillar has long fleshy spines in pairs on 

 every segment." 



8. Bombyx religiose (Heifer). The Joree of the Assamese. 

 Habitat. Assam. Also a wild species, discovered by Mr. Hugon in 



Assam, where it appears to be little known. The caterpillar feeds on the 

 Bur tree Ficus religiosa. 



9. Bombyx Bengalensis (Hutton). Syn. Bombyx Artocarpi (Hutton). 

 Habitat. Bengal. A wild species found, according to A. Grote, Esq., 



feeding on the Artocarpus Jacoocha in the neighbourhood of Calcutta, 

 where it appears to be scarce. The caterpillar spined like that of B. 

 Huttoni. 



10. Bombyx Horsfieldi (Moore). 



Habitat. Java. Discovered in a wild state in Java by the late Dr 

 Horsfield. 



11. Bombyx Subnotata (Walker). 



