130 
BOMBYCIDJE. 
black, or yellow with a round black spot on each 
segment ; the head, a transverse oval spot on the 
segment behind it, the membranous legs, anal seg- 
ment, and horn, in every case remaining ferru- 
ginous. Some of these states are represented on 
Plate T. : figs. 1 and 2, the larva when rather more 
than half grown ; fig. 3, the full grown larva, after 
shedding its spines. On the same plate we have 
represented some other remarkable forms of the 
caterpillars of exotic moths. Fig. 4 is that of the 
species named Bombyx molina by Cramer, and 
figured in his 302d plate, E. F. Fig. 5 is the cater- 
pillar of Pkal. Bombyx Nesea of Stoll, remarkable 
for the brilliancy of its colours and a long dorsal 
horn projecting forwards. Fig. G is the caterpil- 
lar of Bombyx netrix of the same author, the 
moth of which is figured by Cramer on plate 307, 
fig- B. 
The insects of this extensive family are called, 
par excellence , silk-spinning moths, because they pro- 
duce silk in greater profusion than any other lepi- 
doptera. They may be said to be almost the only 
insects, except bees, which it has been thought worth 
while to cultivate and domesticate on account of 
their utility to man. Besides the common silk-moth 
( B . mori ), a great variety of other kinds are culti- 
vated in various quarters of the world. Some of 
these wo have figured and described. The great 
obstacle experienced in rendering their produce ser- 
viceable, is the extreme difficulty in unwinding the 
silk from the cocoon, owing to the tenacious quality 
