ON THE AFFINITY OF OUR, WILD ^ AND DOMESTIC .SILKWORMS. 



37 



absent. The two bands and the diseocellular mark above mentioned are colored 

 dull brown (fig. 5, b). In some specimen.*, each of the ante- and postmedian bands 

 is represented by 2 parallel recurved brownish lines and a diseocellular mark is 

 still conspicuous (fig. 5, a). In others, the antemedian band is absent, and only a 

 single recurved light brownish line indicating the inner edge of the postmedian 

 band, and a light brownish diseocellular mark are present (fig. (i, a & b). In still 

 others, the recurved line indicating the inner edge of the postmedian band has 

 almost disappeared, while the diseocellular mark remains in the form of a faintly 

 colored dot (fig. 7, a & b). Finally even the diseocellular mark disappears, and 

 there is no longer found any colored baud, patch or dot, and the fore wing 

 looks entirely white (fig. 8, a <fc b). The venation of the fore wing is exactly 

 similar with that of the adult of the wild silkworm, both being provided with six 

 principal veins — costal, subcostal, radial, medial, cubital, and anal (ftg 5, c). 



The hind wing is also white, and in its centre runs a light brownish band, 

 which is distinctly seen on the hind wing of the wild silkworm moth (fig. 6, b). 

 In some specimens a part of the band loses its color, while in others the band 

 nearly disappears ; but its position is still represented by a single recurved light 

 brownish line, indicating the oth< r edge of the band (fig. 7, b). In still others, 

 there is no longer to be seen even a trace of the band. Further, the abdominal 

 margin of the hind wing is marked with a single blackish dot instead of three 

 which are regularly found on the same region of the hind wing of the wild silk- 

 worm moth. In some individuals, the blackish dot becomes very faint while in 

 others it entirely disappears (figs. 5, 6, 7, <fe 8). 



The other characters are exactly same in the moths of both the wild and do- 

 mestic silkworms 



The body of the female is larger than that of the male, and the teeth of its 

 pectinated antennae are shorter than in the other sex. 



The length of the female of our largest race is about 21 mm. and the ex- 

 pansion of wings 4G mm., while that of the male is about 17 mm. and the ex- 

 pansion of wings nearly same as in the female. 



The eggs are almost exactly similar in form and size with those of the wild 

 silkworm moth, but they differ in their being purplish blue in the latter (in a 

 race of greenish cocoon they have a greenish shade). 



Larva of the first stage about 4 mm. Coloration of the head and body as 



