34 The Humming Bird. 



the side of these were cocoons of the Ailanthus Silk-moth 

 (Attacus cynthia) , and a number of very fine living 

 imagines. This, which is another Asiatic species, is very 

 easily reared in England, feeding on the Lilac as well as on 

 the Ailanthus Tree! Unfortunately, they degenerate gradually 

 both in size and strength in this country after two or three 

 generations have been reared. The only way to prevent this 

 is to import a number of fresh cocoons from Japan every year, 

 to interbreed with the English-bred moths. A closely allied 

 species, which, however, is not so frequently seen in this 

 country, is the Eria Silk-moth (Attacus ricini) , the larvae of 

 which, as the specific name denotes, feed on the Castor Oil 

 Plant. 



In the next case were cocoons of the Tusseh Silk-moth 

 (Antherea mylitta) , from which, however, no moths had 

 emerged at the time of my visit. This species is said to 

 produce one of the strongest silks spun, although I believe it 

 is too difficult to wind to be used in any quantity as an article 

 of commerce. The moth is large, of a tawny colour, with a 

 large round spot or eyelet, destitute of scales, in the centre 

 of each wing. The inmates of the neighbouring- case were 

 near relatives of this species, being cocoons and living 

 imagines, or perfect insects of Perny's Silk-moths (A. Perny) , 

 which greatly resembles the Tusseh in general characteristics, 

 but is considerably smaller. It comes from China. As men- 

 tioned in my former article, the larva is one of the easiest to 

 rear in this country, feeding on Oak and Hawthorn. A closely 

 allied species sometimes seen at this house is A. Roylei, which 

 is often crossed with A. Perny. 



The Madagascar Pratincole (Glareola ocularis) , described 

 in my last article, was still in the same place, looking in 

 splendid health, as did the Electric Eels, but the Short-winged 

 Tyrant-birds (Machetornis rixosa) , which occupied the next 

 cage to the Eels' tank in December last, had been removed 

 to the Parrot House, their former habitation being tenanted 

 by two pairs of the Bearded Titmouse (Panurus biarmicus) , 

 a charming European species, light brown in colour, with grey 

 heads, the males having a number of long black feathers 

 extending from the bill down each side of the throat, forming 

 two lengthened black patches like moustachios, hence their 

 name of " Bearded." 



I found a change had also taken place in the wall aviary 

 in the north-west corner of the building, our old friend the 

 Fruit Cuckoo having been evicted from this roomy cage, 

 which he had occupied for many years, in order to make room 



