428 



INSECTS. 



[Chap. XII. 



is easily distinguishable from the Atlas, which has a 

 triangular wing, whilst its is falcated, and the transpa- 

 rent spots are covered with a curious thread-like division 

 drawn across them. 



Towards the northern portions of the island this valu- 

 able species entirely displaces the other, owing to the 

 fact that the almond and palma Ckristi abound there. 

 The latter plant springs up spontaneously on every 

 manure-heap or neglected spot of ground ; and might 

 be cultivated, as in India, with great advantage, the 

 leaf to be used as food for the caterpillar, the stalk as 

 fodder for cattle, and the seed for the expression of 

 castor-oil. The Dutch took advantage of this facility, 

 and gave every encouragement to the cultivation of silk 

 at Jaffna 1 , but it never attained such a development as 

 to become an article of commercial importance. Ceylon 

 now cultivates no silkworms whatever, notwithstanding 

 this abundance of the favourite food of one species ; and 

 the rich silken robes sometimes worn by the Buddhist 

 priesthood are imported from China and the continent 

 of India. 



In addition to the Atlas moth and the Mylitta, there 

 are many other Bombycidce in Ceylon ; and, though the 



1 The Portuguese had made the Palace a trial has been undertaken 



attempt previous to the arrival of to feed silkworms, and to ascertain 



the Dutch, and a strip of land on whether silk may be reared at that 



the banks of the Kalany river near station. I have planted a quantity 



Colombo, still bears the name of of mulberry trees, which grow 



Orta Seda, the silk garden. The well there, and they ought to be 



attempt of the Dutch to introduce planted in other directions." — Ya- 



the true silkworm, the Bombyx lentyn, chap. xiii. The growth of 



mori, took place under the gover- the mulberry trees is noticed the 



nor ship of Eyklof Van G-oens, year after in a report to the 



who, on handing over the adminis- governor-general of India, but the 



tration to his successor in a.d. 1663, subject afterwards ceased to be 



thus apprises him of the initiation attended to. 

 of the experiment: — "At Jaffna 



