382 Extrication of Silkworm Moths. [June, 
have not at hand. Still it must be these saws which perform the 
cutting described by Réaumur. No such spines are present in 
Eacles imperialis, 
These observations have been thrown together with the hope 
of stimulating fresh observations among those raising silkworm 
moths. Particular attention should be paid to Telea polyphemus, 
in which the cocoon cutter is so well developed, and where its 
use would seem to be dispensed with, according to the observa- 
tions of Mr. Trouvelot. 
Since the foregoing lines were put in type, I have observed sev- 
eral Platysamia gloverii and one P. columbia either in the act of 
making its way out of its cocoon or immediately after. In no 
case was any cutting or tearing noise heard, though the cocoons 
were all within a foot and a half of my head, on my study table. 
I do not believe that the cocoon-cutters, though well developed, 
are used at all. (In fact, just as I had written the preceding sen- 
tence, a male came out of its cocoon, and my attention was first 
called to it by the rustling it made in creeping over the loose co- 
coons in the box; no noise was heard previous to its appearance 
on the outside of the cocoon.) 
The inside of the cocoons of Platysamia cecropia, columbia, and 
gloverit, is glazed to within about a quarter of an inch of the ante- 
rior end of the cocoon, beyond it is rough and the silk fibres are ~ 
capable of being distended and softened by the copious fluid 
poured out by the moth, The pupa splits along the whole back, 
sometimes to the end of the abdomen. Before issuing from the 
cocoon the wings expand much more in P. gloverii and columbia 
than in A. /una; at least just as the moths work their way out of 
the cocoon, and before they are entirely extricated, the wings are 
nearly an inch long. They evidently pull themselves through 
the aperture by their legs. Previous to extrication they discharge 
from the mouth a fluid which moistens the silk threads, and also 
the hairs of the head and thorax, together with the antenn&. 
This is invariably the case. The insect must with difficulty draw 
itself through the aperture, which scarcely admits the little finger. 
_ The wings expand fully in from fifteen to forty minutes, usually 
about thirty minutes, but the moths are not capable of flying for ' 
an hour or so after. The moth hangs suspended to some object, 
with the wings and antenne drooping down. Though I hatched 
_ out several males and females at a time, at different periods, none 
- united sexually, though the females laid eggs. | 
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