LEPIDOPTERA. 



have two other Asiatic varieties still smaller, with the wings extremely falcated. These 

 are to be regarded as distinct species. 



The larva of Phalsena Atlas is figured by M. Merian, in the Insecta Surinamensia, 

 plate 52 : it is about four inches in length, green, with a yellow stripe disposed longitu- 

 dinally. Upon each segment are four distinct round tubercles, of a coral-like orange 

 colour, which are surrounded with very delicate hairs. The >pupa is large, and inclosed 

 in a web of an ochre colour. The silk of this web is of a strong texture, and it has been 

 imagined, that if woven, it would be superior in durability to that of the common silk 

 worm. Stba has also represented the larva at fig. 1. plate 57. vol. 4. Thesaurus Natures. 

 It is nearly six inches in length, and bulky in proportion ; the Phalaena is also larger 

 than that figured by Merian, which is a small specimen of the Surinam species. According 

 to Merian, there are three broods of this insect in a year ; they are very common, and 

 feed on the orange trees. Linnaeus says, they adhere so tenaciously to the leaves that 

 they can scarcely be taken off.* 



The common silk worm, or Phalsena Mori, belongs to this family, and merits obser- 

 vation as a native of China. The art of weaving its threads into silk is of the earliest 

 date. The discovery is attributed to the Seres, a people of the East Indies, supposed the 

 Chinese. t In the days of Solomon, we are told, a woman named Pamphilia, of the Island 

 of Co, was skilled in the art of making cloth of the silk brought from the country of the 

 Seres. The most ancient of the Chinese writers ascribe the invention to one of the women 

 of the emperor Hoang ti, named Si ling, and in honour Yuen fei.\ When Rome dege- 

 nerated into voluptuousness, Persia, its dependency, furnished this article of luxury ; but 

 it is supposed they were indebted to the Chinese for it, and being supplied only in small 

 quantities, it was consequently dear. In Rome it was so scarce, as to be worn only by 

 persons of the first distinction. 



The Chinese historians affirm, that the discovery was considered at first of such im- 

 portance, that all the women in the palace of the emperor were engaged in rearing the 

 insect and weaving its silk. In after times, the silk of China was a principal article of 

 commerce ; but latterly, its value has been materially lessened by the culture and fabri- 

 cation of silk in other countries. As the Chinese know little of the use of linen, the silk 

 is a staple article of their own consumption. The Jesuit missionaries mention several 



* Larva verticillata verrucis pilosis nee folliculos grandes, tenaces, vix extricandos. Linn. Syst. Nat. 

 f Velleraque ut foliis depectant tenuia Seres. Virg. Georg. II. 122. 



I Du Halde, Des Soyeries. Les plus anciens ecrivans de cet empire en attribuent la decouverte a une 

 des femmes de l'Empereur Hoang ti, nommee Si ling, et surnommee par honneur Yuen fei. 



