223 
pace between them, say five feet; it is so strong that one single thread 
of it is sufficient to make a line with which to catch the smaller kinds 
of fish.” 
The same subject is referred to again in the Foreign Office Report 
on the tits of ae ungchow for the current year [F. O. Annual Series, 
o. 1026 
I enclos é witht this report, for transmission to Kew, a specimen of 
the very tough ‘wild silk’ of my last report, locally used e € lines. 
: ai ai i i 
th 
the Ex is produced upon the * féng’ tree, or Liquidambar Fimo, 
Han 
an 
“ ni Canton it is called *yü-sz, or ‘fish silk,’ also * yü-sz tan, or 
‘fish silk head? In Hoihow it is called * hang-ti > (ch'ung-sz), or 
‘insect silk,’ and it is said to cost 607. the 1334 lbs., or 1,0007. the ton. 
Another account says that the insect which produces this tough silk is 
found every where, but is seen at its best in Hainan, on the summits of 
isolated mountains in the * Lai-mui’ (Ling-mén) tiéliglibonfhoWe In the 
early summer Saf and 4th moons) of each year the insect feeds on 
the leaves of the * chang’ (or ? camphor) tree, and dies when the leaves 
fall off. The male produces a single and the feinale a double thread of 
silk, that produced by the female being, however, of inferior quality. 
Specimen s of the insect were 2 e for the month of April, but I 
regret to say that I shall not be in a position to welcome their arrival. 
i e xtr 
r ua t 
ago. The following extracts are taken from the correspondence which 
took — d ihat time, to supplement the information now given net 
Mr. Park 
Forrren OFFICE to ROYAL Garpens, KEW. 
Sin, Foreign Office, May 7, 1867. 
I am directed x Lord pec to n to you a co of a 
mia from Her esty’s Consul at Amoy, containing information 
regard toa silk pénal caterpillar which is found in that pees of 
China; and forwarding specimens of silkworm gut drawn from this 
eaterpillar by the natives. 
Tam, &. . 
Dr. Hooker, (Signed) E. HAMMOND. 
Royal Gardens, Kew. 
H.B.M. Consut, Amoy, to FOREIGN OFFICE. 
Mx Lorp — Consulate, Amoy, March 11tb, 1867. 
ERC like to learn that in the south of China a 
silk-producing caterpillar i is is fond on the leaves of a Pacis tree. I have 
state. 
worms are steeped in vinegar for a E and then — out me 
