255 



" Mr. Hodgson likewise notices the occurrence of what he and Mr. 

 Frith pronounce to be the Arrindy Moth (S. cynthia) ; and I have 

 it also from the Mussooree, where the caterpillar feeds on the shrub 

 Mussooree (Coriaria nipalensis), and from which this station de- 

 rives its name. Dr. Roxburgh's figure of the caterpillar of S. cyn- 

 thia is, however, so thoroughly unlike those occurring here, that, not- 

 withstanding the identity (if I may so speak) of the imago, I am 

 unwilling to pronounce decisively as to the species until I have com- 

 pared our larvse with those of undoubted S. cynthia from Bengal. 

 Ours occurs from the foot of the hills up to 6000 feet of elevation.''* 



Lady Isabella Rose Gilbert figures the transformations of Anth. 

 paphia, and in her MS. Notes says : — "Tusseh Moths are hatched 

 twice in the year, in May and August : the larvse go into the chry- 

 salis state in September, remaining so till the May following ; whilst 

 those that enter the chrysalis state in July come out in three weeks. 

 Many of the females lay eggs in eight or ten hours after quitting 

 the chrysalis ; others again do not till the following night, or longer. 

 In ten days the young larvse make their appearance, and feed on the 

 Assun tree and the Sal sakooa (Shorea rohusta). In about three 

 weeks from the time of their exclusion from the egg, they attain their 

 fall size, and in eight or ten days more prepare for their transforma- 

 tion into the chrysalis. The caterpillar commences its operations 

 by drawing a few leaves slightly together, as if to screen it from ob- 

 servation. It then spins a strong cord, composed of many threads, 

 altogether about the thickness of a crow-quill, at the end of which 

 it weaves the cocoon. The cocoon is so transparent for the first six 

 and thirty hours, that the larva may be distinctly perceived at work 

 in the interior ; after that time the cocoon gradually acquires con- 

 sistence by the continued industry of the caterpillar, and becomes 

 quite opaque from the addition of a glutinous liquid with which it 

 moistens the whole. When that dries, the cocoon appears as if 

 covered with white powder, and in the course of a couple of days 

 becomes perfectly hard. 



" The moth generally deposits its eggs within a few yards of the 

 cocoon ; these the villagers collect and keep in their houses till the 

 young caterpillars come forth, when they are placed on the Assun 

 trees in the jungles, the proprietors remaining to protect them from 

 the birds, and to bring home the cocoons when perfect. The people 

 who rear these silkworms are of the Sontal and Bhouree castes, and 

 practise many superstitious ceremonies while tending them in the 

 jungles." 



2. Anther^a pernyi (Guerin). 



Saturnia pernyi 3 Guerin-Meneville, Revue et Mag. de Zool. (1855) 

 p. 297. pi. 6. f. 1. 



Anther cea mylitta, var., Walker, List Lep. Het. Brit. Mus. pt. vi. 

 p. 1378. 



I lab. China (Guerin). In British Museum Collection. 

 M. Guerin-Meneville observes that A. pernyi may be distinguished 

 from A. paphia by the form and texture of its cocoon. In his figures 



