INTRODUCTION. 
81 
any will supply them with a greater number of new 
objects, or afford a wider field for interesting ob- 
servation. The history of a large proportion of the 
moths of which we possess figures and descriptions 
in the perfect state, is entirely unknown to us. The 
appearance of the larva, its habits, food, metamor- 
phoses, &c. have either never been noticed or not 
recorded. Of many, we are acquainted with only 
one sex ; and in many cases, there is such a disparity 
between the male and female, that there is reason to 
believe that not a few, now regarded as distinct 
species, stand merely in that relation to each other. 
The subject, too, is far from being void of interest in 
an economical point of view. Thcro is every reason 
to believe that there aro indigenous moths in most 
countries capable of affording excellent silk ; which, 
even although it might not supersede that afforded 
by the mulberry moth, might yet be converted to 
many useful purposes. Although much, as will be 
afterwards seen, has recently been done in India in 
manufacturing silk from a great variety of species, 
there is still strong inducement for further experi- 
ments and investigation, particularly in reference to 
those of large size, for if their produce could be 
made available, it might be so managed as to obtain 
it in almost any quantity. 
