
$12 THE CYNTHIA SILK-WORM. 
ledge, harbored some base design on the pocket. What is : 
being done in that locality now I do not know, and the only 
sewing-silk manufactory that I know of, is that of the 
“Singer Sewing Machine Company,” in New Jersey. Of — 
course all the silk they use is imported. | 
The silk-producing moth of the period above adverted to 
was, of course, the Bombyx mori, and the same species has 
continued up to a very recent period, to furnish most of the 
silk manufactured in Europe. With the conservative feeling 
which forms so admirable a trait in their character, the Eng — 
lish have stuck to their old friend through good and evil re- 
port, till at last the disease which threatens to exterminate 
this once valuable insect, has compelled them, as well as theit 
neighbors the French, to cast about for some more healthy 
silk-producer. Two species seem to recommend themselves, 
and they are the Yama-mai, and the Cynthia; the last 
named being the favorite; and this is the moth whose cul- 
ture here, as a silk-producer, it is the object of this paper t0 
recommend. It has been asked, Why not select some native | 
American species, and thus get rid of difficulties which r 
doubtless, occur in the attempts to acclimatize this foreigne!: 
In the first volume of this Magazine, Mr. Trouvelot e 
shown, more or less satisfactorily, that our principal silk- 
worms, Cecropia, Luna, and Promethea, do not produce * i 
cocoon suitable for the silk manufacturer. I must confess ‘ 
that I have my doubts of this. It seems to me, as the wa 
is made of silk, that, under favorable circumstances, it may 
be made serviceable; but I concede that, at present, ie 
should turn our attention to other species. The - phe 
mus, Mr. Trouvelot thinks, is the only American ss 
worthy of present attention, and I agree with him. ae 
silk produced by it is coarse and strong; and Iam eg 
may be turned to profitable account. It possesses, a a 
think, an advantage, in that the cocoon can be unwoun® = 
comparative ease.* 3 
see AMERICAN snt 4 


*For descriptions and figures of the Telea Polyphemus, 
IST, Vol. I, pages 35, 85, 145, and plates 5 and 6, 


