128 



THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



I have only alluded to those species which feed on the mulberry, of which 

 there are so many species, that there is some doubt as to whether we really 

 know what Bombyx mori means, or whether it exists at all. . 



The Indian Tussur silk (the name is probably derived from the Hindostani 

 word Tusurn, or Tasare, which signifies a shuttle), is called Tussur, or silk 

 of the shuttle, in consequence of being used only in the shuttle with a cotton 

 warp : it is the product of the larva of Anther aa mylitta. The fibre is thicker 

 and stronger than that of any other known silk -producing larva. The structure 

 of a single fibre is elliptical, and that of a double fibre, when cut transversely, 

 and put under the microscope, is that of two ellipses placed longitudinally 

 with their greatest diameters in contact. The larvse suspend very curiously 

 their cocoons from the branches of trees, .by constructing a thick hard pedicle 

 which is made to grasp the branch. This pedicle is constructed previous to 

 forming the cocoon, which is elliptical, hard, and compact, with the pedicle 

 near the end, but sufficiently out of the centre to allow the moth to emerge 

 without detaching the cocOon. The moth does not always emerge from the 

 end of the cocoon to which the pedicle is attached, but probably from the 

 end which is the highest according to the position in which it is fastened to 

 the branch. Silk was reeled from these cocoons in the Royal Jubilee 

 Exhibition, Manchester. 



The Chinese Tussur, Anthercea peryni, is a native of Northern China. The 

 cocoon is elliptical, and not so hard and compact as that of the Indian Tussur, 

 and without pedicle. The cocoons of this species were sent to Europe to 

 supply the demand for Indian Tussur, previous to the Paris Exhibition of 

 1878. The silk is said to be reeled by the Chinese at Chefoo. It is repre- 

 sented as strong, with very little lustre, but of very good quality. The larva 

 feeds on oak (Quercus mongolica.) 



Anthercea yama-mai produces the Yama-mai silkworm of Japan. Formerly 

 its silk is said to have been reserved for Royalty. The cocoon is of a pale 

 green colour. The fibre is oval, and one-third finer than that of the Indian 

 Tussur, and twice as coarse as that of the ordinary silk of commerce ; its 

 colour is of a greenish white and very glossy. The ova of this species were 

 secretly conveyed from Japan in 1862, which is coincident almost with that 

 of Bombyx mori, eggs of which were secretly conveyed about the middle of 

 the sixth century by two monks, in two hollow canes, for which, it is said, 

 the penalty was death if caught in the act. The silkworm of Yama-mai feeds 

 on the evergreen oak. 



The following is extracted from " CasselFs Technical Educator," and is the 

 translation of a notice published by M. Pompe van Meedervoort, relative to 

 the introduction of the Yama-mai into Europe 



