Jf o. % ] Wild Silk Insects of India. 73 



that there is no chance of the Atlas silk competing successfully with that 

 of such species as the tusser, which can be obtained so much more easily. 

 Connected with Attacus atlas, besides Attacus edivardsii, which is pro- 

 bably a distinct though closely allied species, we may . notice Attacus 

 silhetica of Heifer (Journ. A. S. B. VI, p. 41, 1837) and Attacus tapro. 

 banis of Moore, Lep. Ceyl. II, p. 124, 1882), both of which forms, so far 

 as the descriptions and figures of them go, seem indistinguishable from 

 Attacus atlas. 



Attacus edwardsh, White. Plate 2, fig. 2. 



A large species, somewhat darker in color and with somewhat larger 

 and differently arranged white markings, but very similar, both in general 

 appearance and in size to Attacus atlas, of which it is little more than a 

 constant variety. It is found in the hills in many parts of India (Sikkim 

 Shillong, Khasi Hills, Mussoorie, Western Ghats, and Mysore), but is 

 usually scarce. In Sikkim, according to the late Mr. Otto Mdller, it is 

 found at an altitude of from 6,000 to 7,000 feet and goes through but one 

 generation in the year, hibernating as a pupa inside the cocoon, from 

 which it emerges as a moth during the rains (July to September). The 

 cocoon is much like that of Attacus atlas, but is somewhat denser in struc- 

 ture and sufficiently different in shape to be distinguishable. The cater- 

 pillar is very like that of Attacus atlas, but differs from it markedly in 

 possessing a number of black speckles on the two anterior pairs of fleshy 

 protuberances. The specimen from which the drawing of the larva has been 

 made was obtained by Mr. A. V. Knyvett at Kurseong. Mr. Knyvet de- 

 scribes the caterpillar as follows : — " General color, green -powdered above, 

 especially on the tentacles, with a white powder which comes off in flakes, 

 tentacles about half an inch in length, occurring in pairs on the third, 

 fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenths and eleventh segments, 

 the twelfth segment being furnished with a singlemedium tentacle : the 

 tentacles on the third and fourth segment are bluish, dotted with black, 

 those on the other segments are green at the base, bluish at the apex, and 

 covered with flakes of white powder ; stigmata, light greenish blue in 

 color; anal claspers with a large vermilion spot." 



Attacus cynthia, Drury. Plate 3. 



This species is very closely allied to the eri silk moth {Attacus ricini) 

 and is probably the original wild form from which the eri has been 

 derived by domestication. It can, however, be easily distinguished 

 from the eri, by its larger size and brighter and more golden coloration, 

 and as the two forms appear to have somewhat different habits, it seems 

 best to look upon them as belonging to distinct species. 



Attacus cynthia is said to range over India, China, and some of the 

 Malay Islands ; in the Indian Museum are specimens f rom Mussoorie, 



