SATURNIA MYLITTA. 149 
whom we are indebted for the above information, 
as well as for what follows,* does not live for more 
than from six to twelve days, at least in a state of 
■confinement. It takes no nom-ishment whatever, 
not having any mouth or channel by which food 
could be received. When the female is impregnated, 
she deposits her eggs on- the branches of the tree 
she may be resting on, to which they adhere firmly 
by means of the gluten they are covered with w^hen 
newly laid. 
This insect is a native of Bengal, Bahar, Assam, 
&c. The caterpillar feeds on the leaves of the 
Rhamnus Jujuha (Byer of the Hindoos), and on 
those of Terminalia alata glabra^ known to the 
Hindoos by the name of Asseen. It is found in 
such abundance over many parts of Bengal and the 
adjoining provinces, as to have afforded to the 
natives, from time immemorial, an abundant supply 
of a most durable, coarse, dark-coloured silk, com- 
monly called Tusseh-silk^ which is woven into a 
kind of cloth called Tussey doot'hies^ much worn by 
Bramins and other sects of Hindoos. The following 
more detailed account of this interesting and valu- 
able insect, is from a letter published by Dr. Kox- 
burgh, which w^as written by Mr. Atkinson to a 
Mr. Pope of Mahometpore. In reply to the ques- 
tions that had been addressed to him, the writer 
states : — 
" 1st, That the cocoons of the insect, which feeds 
on the Byer leaf, are called by the natives Bughy, 
* See Linnean Trans., vol. vii. p. 33. 
