THE YOUNG NATUBALIST. 



129 



" In 1862, I had the honour to make the acquaintance of M. Eugene Simon. He in- 

 formed me of the great value of the Botribyx yama-mai, and together we made every effort, 

 but in vain, to procure eggs ol this species; we were told it was absolutely impossible 

 to obtain them. M. Simon being obliged to return, "he made me promise before he left 

 to continue my efforts, and in case of success to offer the eggs to the French Govern- 

 ment. But the more I tried the more I saw how difficult, if not impossible, was the 

 attempt. I applied in vain to the Japanese merchants, the silk growers, to many native 

 naturalists, with whom I was on friendly terms, lastly to the Government, but all in 

 vain. The reply was, ' The penalty of death is inflicted on anyone who may export 

 these eggs.' Another idea then possessed me ; to apply to one of my pupils. As the 

 Principal of the Imperial School of Medicine at Nagasaki, I was surrounded with 

 students from the different provinces of Japan, and, amongst others, from the Echizen 

 and Vigo, or Hiogo, where alone the Yama-mai silkworms are reared. One of these 

 youths, who had on several occasions given me proofs of his extraordinary devotion, 

 was selected by me for the purpose ; to him I explained the whole affair, and proposed 

 that he should go to Vigo at my expense, in order to collect and send me as many eggs 

 as possible. This brave young man, whose name I promised never to divulge, started 

 on the morrow, and after an absence of fifteen days secretly sent me the eggs, which he 

 had collected with much difficulty and danger to himself. He told me that no one sus- 

 pected the object of his journey ; that was in October, 1862. My mission to Japan was 

 finished November 1st, 1862. I started' for Europe by the English mail packet, and 

 undertook the charge of conveying these eggs to Europe. This was by no means an 

 easy matter on board a steampship in the Tropics. If the eggs were kept in the cabin, a 

 great risk of their premature hatching was incurred, for the temperature there in the 

 month of November is above 95 degrees Fahrenheit, and in the Red Sea 105 degrees 

 and more. I followed the advice of M. Simon, and placed the eggs in an ice box on 

 board ship, though often but very little ice was therein. To this precaution is due, in a 

 great measure, their safe arrival in Europe in good condition. I arrived at the Hague 

 early in January 1863, and at once sent out the eggs. The greater part were sent to the 

 French Government, and to the Imperial Society of Acclimatisation, according to the 

 promise I had made to my friend M. Simon." 



The Muga silk is produced by the larve of Anthercea assama, which is 

 indigenous to Assam. The cocoon is about two inches in length and seven- 

 eights of an inch in diameter, rather pointed at each end, and loose and 

 flossy. The fibre is about the same as that of Anthercea yama-mai in strength 

 and thickness, and in structure like that of the Indian Tussur. The silk 

 varies in colour according to what the larvse have been fed on; it is 

 generally fawn coloured, sometimes whitish. There are five broods annually. 

 The silk was sucessfuily reeled in the Eoyal Jubilee Exhibition. Mr. Thomas 

 Wardle has frequently had fertile cocoons forwarded to this country, but 

 unfortunately the moths have emerged during transit ; in one instance, fer- 

 tilization had taken place en route, and the larvse were emerging from the ova 

 when they arrived at Leek in mid-winter, and food of course was not obtain- 

 able. The silk forms an article of export from Assam. 



The Eria silk is produced by the larvse of Attacus ricini. It is indigenous 

 to Assam and Bachar, and feeds on Mcinus communis, producing seven or 



