44 
Insecta. 
The only insects the Society has experimented on, are the English 
glow-worm, the Arrindy silk-worm, and the Ligurian bee. Of 
the glow-worm, Mr. Edward Wilson sent out a nuhaber, but they 
proved unfortunately to have been all of one sex, so that the 
species has not been continued; but its acclimatisation was 
proved in an amusing manner by one of the six entrusted to me 
having been accidently lost, but after an absence of more than two 
months in the grounds of the University, it was caught again in full 
glow, walking in at the yard gate. As I knew there were no shelled 
mollusca for it there to live on, I found it had fed all the while on 
the garden slugs, on which I fed them afterwards. 
The common Mulberry silk-worm (Bombyx Mori) has been 
long introduced, but owing to the delicacy of the mulberry-leaf 
when exposed to our hot winds, and the lettuce as food for the larvae 
also presenting difficulties, Dr. Black urged the introduction of the 
Arrindy silk-worm (Attacus cynthia), which feeds on the leaves of the 
castor-oil plant—a plant which grows here most luxuriantly as a perfect 
weed, wherever the seed is cast, and is totally unaffected by any of the 
changes oi our climate. This insect produces a much larger quan¬ 
tity of silk, though of a coarser quality, than the common species, 
and requires no attendance. The silk may be wound off by a newly 
discovered method, or, as is commonly done in India, may be spun 
from the cocoon like cotton, forming an almost indestructible silk, 
suited for ordinary summer clothing for men. A few months ago, a 
supply of the eggs was received from the Secretary of the Agri- 
horticultural Society of India, but they had unfortunately been kept 
too dry, and were all dead before they arrived. I have, however, 
drawn up a memorandum of instructions, which was forwarded by 
the last mail, from which we expect by trying the eggs, the larvae, 
and the pup®, to succeed in establishing the species before our next 
anniversary. 
Of the Ligurian Bee, four hives were shipped with every care, by 
Mr. Edward Wilson, on board a vessel which is expected to arrive 
every day. Such measures have been taken in conjunction with 
the Apiarian Society, as will almost certainly establish the 
insects in this country if they reach us alive; and when the 
immense superiority of this bee over the common hive-bee, in the 
quality and quantity of the honey, is considered, the country will 
acknowledge another debt of gratitude to Mr. Wilson for this addi- 
dition to the wealth of the poor man, as well as to the enjoyment 
of all. 
