241 



erected, and the empress went in person to gather the mulbeny- 

 leaves. According to the regulations of the Suy dynasty (a.d. 620), 

 the empress went to the appointed place to gather the mulberry- 

 leaves. During the Tang dynasty, in the reign of Chin-kwan (a.d. 

 650), the empress did the same ; in the first year of the following- 

 monarch Heen-k'hing (a.d. 655), and in the reign of Keen-yuen 

 (a.d. 747), the empresses all attended to the silkworm ceremony. 

 At the same time a decree was issued, requiring that the silkworms 

 should be fed in the palace, when the empress went in person to 

 inspect them. During the Sling dynasty, in the reign of K'hae-paou 

 (a.d. 960), on recording the ceremonies performed at the celestial 

 sacrifice, the prayer is given which was offered when the empress 

 went in person to rear the silkworms. From all which we perceive 

 that the empresses through successive dynasties attended in person 

 to the business of rearing the silkworms. By selecting these extracts 

 from the historical documents, we have set this matter in a very 

 clear light, and placed the whole at the head of our treatise." 



The Essay from which the preceding extract has been made con- 

 tains many other interesting details, showing the importance attached 

 in the earlier periods of Chinese history to the manufacture of silk 

 generally, and especially to the cultivation of the mulberry in its 

 various modifications. 



" The culture of the mulberry silkworm " (Bombyx mori), re- 

 marks Dr. Royle # , " was early introduced into India from China, 

 where it flourishes chiefly about Nankin, or in 32° of north latitude ; 

 but in India none of the old silk filatures extend to beyond 26° 

 of north latitude. This can, I conceive, be ascribed only to the 

 excessive heat and dryness of the north-western provinces of India 

 being unsuitable to the animal, besides producing a dryer and harder 

 leaf than it likes for its food." 



The Rev. W. Fox, Curate of West Mailing, Kent f, records the 

 fact of Bombyx mori having been found in a wild state in England, 

 and gives the following remarks : — 



" On the 10th July 1858, a number of silkworms, estimated at from 

 80 to 100, were found under a hedge in a place called Banksfield, near 

 "West Mailing, not far from Maidstone, Kent. There was no appear- 

 ance of the insects having been scattered accidentally in the place, 

 but, on the contrary, every indication of their having been hatched 

 and sustained for some time in the spot where they were discovered. 

 The leaves of several plants in the immediate vicinity were much 

 eaten, showing plainly that the larvse had for some time been feeding 

 upon them. A bush of the common Bramble (Rabus fruticosus), 

 among others, had been partially despoiled of its leaves. When 

 discovered, about three-fourths of the whole number had spun their 

 cocoons, which were hanging in all directions upon the weeds and 

 the bramble referred to. Some were just commencing the spinning 

 process, while others were yet in the larva state, and were feeding 



* Report on the Paris Universal Exhibition, pt. 2. p. 216. 

 f See 'Athenaeum' for October 16th, 1858. 



No. 399. — Proceedings of the Zoological Society. 



