Report of Society's Meetings. 315 
rous, and are not accompanied by drawings and descriptions of 
the pupae and larvae of the several moths and their respective 
food plants, but I have no doubt that a collection of moths and 
cocoons with the plants on which the larvae feed could be readily 
obtained with the assistance of Mr. Quelch and the Revd. Mr. 
Harper, and such a collection Mr. Wardle has kindly offered to 
examine and report upon. 
One British Guiana moth (of which I send a specimen) was stated by 
Mr. Wardle to be a silk worm moth and it would be advisable to procure 
its cocoon and larvae (the latter in spirit) and its food plant and send to 
Mr. Wardle. 
Many of the plants which in India support the silk worm are to be 
found in British Guiana. 
If the indigenous silkworms are found to be from any cause unde- 
sirable subjects for culture, it would be by no means difficult to import 
eggs from France, Italy, Japan, and China as is done in India. 
Owing to an improved method of winding, silk has increased in value 
and there is a growing demand for it, indeed this afternoon as I accom- 
panied Mr. Wardle round his court a large silk spinner came up and 
gave an order for 1,000 lbs. of one kind. The machine for winding is 
simple and inexpensive. I send herewith for presentation from me to 
our library two books on Indian SilK culture and the wild silks of India, 
and I shall be glad if the subject recommends itself to the attention of 
the Society, and if so, I would suggest that a committee might be 
appointed to collect materials and information which might be submitted 
to Mr. Wardle as before mentioned. Mr. Quelch and the Rev. Mr. 
Harper with any other entomologists resident in the colony might be 
asked to search for silkworm moths &c. and Mr. Jenman would no 
doubt supply information as to the plants to be found in the colony 
which are the same as, or similar to, the food plants mentioned in the 
hand books. Terminalia Catalpa — Ricinus Communis Lagerstrooemia — 
are more or less common in the colony and as the mulberry grows 
readily in the West Indies it may possibly succeed with us. 
Even if silkworm culture should not become a recognized industry, it 
may well become a profitable employment — amusement, hobby if you 
like, to those who require and would appreciate an interesting occupa. 
tion. 
Mr. Wardle's address is Thomas Wardle Esq., F.C.S., F.G.S., Leek, 
Staffordshire." • , . ' - ' 
RR 2 
