224 
- I have not been able yet to procure the insect so as to ascertain 
whether it be known or not to naturalists, but as soon as the season 
comes round I have no doubt that I shall be ‘able to The curious 
fact regarding it is that it subsists on the oe x a Liquidambar, a 
aus t flourishes from Canton to N ig a mosa, and 
ha in ormos 
ich a near ally, Z. me See oo thrives in North. America. So that 
i com it be found wort ile to cultivate the insect for the 
e of its silk, I should think it ouk be no great difficulty to educate 
it to feed upon ‘the leaves of that American forest tree. 
The late Mr. Oldham, travelling botanist for Kew Gardens, and 
myself in 1864 first procured this e at Tamsuy, Formosa. We sent 
specimens of it to Dr. H. F. Hance, H.M. Vice-Consul at m 
who is the botanical authority in Chim, and he described it as a new 
ies of Liquidambar, and named it L. formosana, It formed bata of 
sa. O 
it hest 
steil feeds on ih the i ccs of T ae a coarse silk. = 
The mention v the i incited me to is every inquiry 
-— the tree at Amoy, and as I have above stated I find that such 
worm does also occur on the tree here, but that it is only used for 
silkw m gut. 
The ay ee eem Hance says, is known to the Chinese 
as the Fung (or Feng) tree. The Chinese Gazetteer of Formosa gives 
e name as of a tree occurring in Formosa ex nothing more. The 
Chinese standard Dictionary of Kanghe gives a peculiarly Chinese 
account id it, but makes no allusion to Er: caterpillar. 
* * * 
I M from the natives that the ial | is fragrant when charred, and 
that a decoction of the leaves is used as a stomachic. A resinous sap 
is tappe m the tree which is vidra used in lamps in place 
of oil. 
* * * * * * 
As so much interest is now taken in silk-producing insects, no 
further excuse may be needed for my boldness in uu P the 
lave, &e. 
(Signed). ROBERT SWINHOE, 
The Lord Stanley. H.B.M. Consul at Amoy. 
H.B.M. Consut, Amoy, to FOREIGN OFFICE. 
My Lorn British Consulate, Amoy, e April 1867. 
REFERRING to m despatch of 11th March 1867, I have now 
the unde to forward a few cocoons of the silk-produeing worm of the 
a 
. The cocoons are worked by the insect on the bark of the tree, and are so 
hard, coarse, and thin, that in the first place it can be no easy matter tter to 
