LEPIDOPTERA. 
395 
De l’Orza (L(5pid. Japon. p. 43) suggests that the larva of A. yama-mai 
is probably polyphagous, and may prefer plants -which we do not possess. 
A. Girard (Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. Stances, 1868, pp. 97-99) records the 
failure of this silkworm in France in 1868, and the success obtained by Baron 
de Bretton in Moravia. He remarks (Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. 1869, p. 492) that 
the J.apanese usually export only bad eggs of this silkworm. 
Guerin-Meneville observes (/. c. Stances, p. 75) that multiple cocoons 
are very common in this species, sometimes as many as six or seven pupie 
occurring in one cocoon. The moths are sometimes developed, and couple 
inside these cocoons. 
On rearing A. yama-mai in Bamberg, see Baumann, Mittheil. des Naturf. 
Ges. in Bern, a. d. Jahre 1867, nos. 619-653, pp. 219-221; and Barlet, 
Tijdschr. voor Entom. 2 serie, vol. iv. pp. 76-79: on experiments in Ireland; 
see Be’ Ricci, Journ. Roy. Dubl. Soc. vol. v. pp. 172-177. 
Bomhyx mori. Pasteur has published a series of articles in the Oomptes 
rendus (Ixviii. pp. 79-82, 628-639, 1229-1234; Ixix. pp. 158-160, 744- 
748) in which he argues that the prevailing silkworm epidemic is hereditary 
and highly contagious, but that the matter of contagion becomes innocuous 
after a year. He therefore recommends that silkworms should be carefully 
reared for breeding from small quantities of eggs previously ascertained by 
microscopic examination to be healthy. He also comments on the results of 
various experiments which have been undertaken to test his theory. 
For further experiments see articles by Guisquet and Vaillant, Oomptes 
rendus, Ixviii. pp. 1574, 1675, and Ixix. pp. 160-163 ; and Oantoni, Journ. 
d’Agric. Prat. 1869, ii. pp. 307-309, 558, 559. 
Raydaud-Lange (Oomptes rendus, Ixviii. pp. 1276, 1276) attributes the 
disease to the disengngement of ammoniacal gas from the frass ” of the 
worm, and states that it may bo produced by placing a worm near a glass 
of ammonia under a cover. His conclusions are disputed by Pasteur, ibid, 
pp. 1433, 1434. 
Bi?CTrAMP {1. c. Ixix. pp. 139-142) attributes the disease to a Micromyza 
{M. bomhycis, Bech.), which becoming diseased in consequence of decompo- 
sition of the mulberry-leaf, conveys the disease to such weakly silkworms as 
are predisposed to it. 
PizE {1. c. Ixviii. pp. 646, 646) has detected fatty degeneration in some eggs 
of silkworms, which he attributes to their being reared under unfavourable 
circumstances. He proposes to continue his observations on the subject. 
Buclaux (1. c. Ixix. pp. 1021, 1022) has discovered that the embryo is 
not properly developed in eggs of silkworms which have not been submitted 
to a low temperature for a sufficient period. 
CoRNALiA details the result of various experiments by Crivelli and Be- 
lotti in rearing silkworms from healthy eggs obtained from Balmatia. He 
finds it necessary for success to breed from healthy eggs; to keep the worms 
and the mulberries from which they are supplied perfectly isolated, to rear 
them early, to avoid possible contagion at the stages when the disease is most 
infectious, to well ventilate the rooms, to stipply the silkworms with good 
food, and to keep them perfectly clean. The use of disinfectants is also re- 
commended. Oornalia does not believe that the prevailing epidemic is here- 
ditary, or present in the egg. But he acknowledges that he has been unable 
to come to a conclusion as to the origin of the disease, and the inferences he 
