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Vol. 17.7 [No. 2.

ENT IDIAN MUSEUM NOTES.

THE WILD SILK INSECTS OF INDIA.

By E. C. COTES.

The following account of the wild silk-producing insects of India is
intended to be a supplement to the paper on the cultivated forms, pub-
lished as Vol. I, No. 3, of these Notes. It includes a summary of what
has been ascertained about the various forms of Saturniids and Bomby-
cide which occur in India—the mulberry-feeding silk worms, and the
Eri, the Muga, and the Tusser alone being omitted, as they have already
been dealt with in the paper on the cultivated forms,

It is a well known fact that the caterpillars of most moths spin a
small amount of silk. The only groups, however, which contain species
whose silk is at all suited for utilization are the Saturniide and Bomby-
cide, and the whole of the Indian species belonging to these groups,
therefore, have been included in the present report, though many of them
do not produce sufficient silk to be of any use. So much, however, has

. of late years been said about the wild silk insects of India, and such

exaggerated opinions have been expressed as to their value, that it has
been thought best to deal exhaustively with the matter, so as to clear the
ground and show precisely how the question really stands,

All that is known about the possible commercial utility of the cocoons
of the various species has been noticed in dealing with each insect.
The conclusion arrived at has been, that while many of the wild species
produce silk which would be of considerable value if it were forthcoming

in sufficient quantities, there is nothing to show that any of it is superior

to the silk produced by the species which are already under cultivation ;
and although the cocoons of numerous wild species are collected, when
they happen to be found, and are sold to be spun up with other materials,
this source of supply is too precarious to have any commercial import-
ance ; so that upon the whole it may be concluded that an increased
demand for Indian silk is far more likely to stimulate the production of
the species which are already under cultivation than to bring any of
the wild forms into general use. ‘

The only cocoons, other than those of the cultivated forms, which are
to be found in any appreciable quantity in the Calcutta market, belong

1770 ©,

70 Indian Museum Notes. [Wil Ei;

to the species Attacus cynthia, and even these do not appear in sufficient
numbers to be of any importance. Of the remaining wild species, the
most promising seem to be; (1) Cricula trifenestrata, whose golden
colored cocoons are often to be found in large masses upon mango and
other trees in many parts of India, and have been favorably reported
upon by some experts, though the silk is said to irritate the skin of
the wearer, owing to urticating properties of the caterpillars’ hairs which
are liable to get spun up with it; (2) Autherea roylei, which lives upon
hill oaks in the Himalayas and is closely allied to the oak feeding species
Antherea pernyt and Antherea yamamat which produce most of what is
known as the Zussore silks of China and Japan; (8) TLheophila huttonz,
whose cocoons are sometimes to be found in considerable number upon
wild mulberry trees in the North-West Himalayas, and might occa-
sionally be worth collecting, though, according to Captain Hutton, the
crop is too precarious to hee much value.

In drawing up this account constant reference has been made to the
collections of the Indian Museum, which now contain representatives of
all the commoner forms of Indian Saturniide and Bombycide. The
literature of the subject has also been carefully consulted and an attempt
has been made to introduce some order into it, by indicating the affinities
of a number of so-called species, which have in many cases been founded
solely upon trifling peculiarities detected in dried specimens, though
these peculiarities are often so slight that the insects are practically
indistinguishable. Where, therefore, there is no known difference in
structure or life history to justify the separation of what are evidently
very closely ailied forms, it has been thought best to deal with them
under the headings of the ones earliest described, the existence, however,
of the allied forms being in each case indicated, so as to prevent the
possibility of confusion arising, in the event of fundamental differences
being in any cases hereafter brought to light. Figures of all the well
marked forms have been appended, where possible, with illustrations of
the caterpillars and cocoons; and in all cases where there is any possibility
of doubt about the identity of a species which has been figured, the
authority adopted for its identification has been quoted. The most re-
liable specimens in the Museum collection of Saturniide and Bombycidz
are probably those collected by the late Mr. Otto Moller in Sikkim
and determined by Mr. H. J. Elwes, but the Museum also possesses
several of the late Captain Hutton’s types, as well as numerous insects
determined by Mr. I’. Moore, and the whole of these specimens have in
each case been carefully examined, reference being also made to a con-
siderable collection of Indian moths belonging io Colonel A. M. Lang
and determined by Mr. F. Moore.

With regard to the plates with which this report is illustrated, the
figures of the larvee of Theophila affinis, Th. huttoni, and Th. bengalensis,

No. 2. ] Wild Sitk Insects of India. ah

are from colored drawings made some years ago by the Museum
artist, Behari Lal Dos, under the direction of the Superintendent of the

Indian Museum. The figure of the cocoon of Theophila affiinis is a photo-
graph kindly taken by Mr. Wood-Mason. The figures of Axtheraa
yamamat and A. pernyi are after figures published in the Rev. et Mag~
de Zool. and the Tijd. Voor. Ent. im illustration of papers by Guérin
Méneville and Westmaas. The figure of the larva of Ocinara lactea is
after one published in the Trans, Ent. Soe., Lond., in illustration of a
paper by Captain Hutton. The remaiaing figures have been made from
the specimens by the Museum artist, Grish Chunder Chuckerbutty, under
the direction of the writer.

Artacus atuas, Linn. - Plate 2, jig. 1.

This moth is well known on account of its great size, some of the
specimens in the Indian Museum being more than ten inches across
from tip to tip of wings. It is common on the slopes of hil] ranges
all over India and Burma; and, according to Gosse, ranges in South-
Eastern Asia over 35° of latitude and 55° of longitude, being abund-
ant in China and scattered over the whole of the Malay Archipelago.

The life history of the insect has been fully described by Gosse
(Entomologist XII, p. 25), Manuel (Journ. Agri. Hort. Soc. Ind.
n.s. Vol. VII, p. 291), and by Brownlow (Journ. Agri. Hort. Soe.
Ind. n. s. Vol. V, p. 183). According to Manuel the insect spins once
a year in its natural state, though in domestication in Burma it will
spin twice or even three times,—once at the commencement of the rains,
once during the rains, and again at the close of the rains, the best
cocoons being those formed towards the beginning of the cold weather,
The female moth is very sluggish, and seldom flies; the male, which
has a powerful flight, usually seeking her out and fertilizing her as she
clings to the cocoon from which she has emerged ; for this purpose the
male is furnished with some sense, probably of smell, which enables him
to find the female unerringly, however thick the foliage in which she is:
concealed. After fertilization the female lays about 300 eges in masses
which are firmly gummed on to the under surface of the leaves upon
which the caterpillars afterwards feed. The food plants are very numer-
ous ;in Almorah the caterpillar has been found upon a bush belonging to
the genus Berberzs ; in the,hills about Mussoorie upon Falconeria insignis
(Hutton) ; in Assam on Vangueria spinosa (Stack) ; in Sikkim upon
Teucrium macrostachyum, a species which grows abundantly from an
elevation of 6,000 feet upwards (Otto Moller) ; in Bangalore upon a
species of Ocimum (Cameron) ; in Burma upon Ardisia sp., Clerodendron
infortunatum, Dillenia pentagynia, Lagerstremia indiea, Nauclea rotundi-
folia, Phyllanthus emblica, and Schleichera trijuga (Manuel); while
Gosse succeeded in rearing it upon apple, and in Ceylon the form

72 Indian Museum Notes. [Vols i.

described by Moore as Attacus taprobanis, which is said to be very com-
mon about Colombo, feeds upon cinnamon ( Thwaites).

The eggs are oval in shape, about 0°08 of an inch in diameter, in color
greenish white, with brownish purple clouding, which readily washes off.
They hatch about a week after being laid, and the caterpillars which
emerge are generally sluggish and solitary in their habits, seldom wan-
dering to any. distance from their birthplace unless driven by scarcity of
food. When first hatched they are little dark colored creatures, about a
third of an inch in length, and covered with hairy tubercles ; they grow
_ rapidly, however, and after the first molt become lighter in color and are
soon covered with a dense white flour-like secretion which accumulates
upon them after each molt. After passing some twenty days as cater-
pillars, and molting about five times, they are full grown and ready to
spin themselves up into their cocoons; a very large proportion of them,
however, fall victims, before they reach this stage, to the ants, wasps, and
other foes which are always on the look-out for them. When the caterpillars —
leave oif feeding, preparatory to spinning, they are sometimes as much as
five inches in length by an ineh in diameter, but they contract consider-
ably before actually commencing their cocoons. The cocoon is spun in the
usual manner and is so closely enveloped in the leaves of the food plant
that, when it is torn away, permanent impressions, showing the shape
and neuration of the leaves, are left upon the silk. The cocoon is
generally drab colored, and from two to three inches long, by an inch in
diameter ; it is irregular in shape, with thin firm walls, whick are scarcely
at all silky in appearance, except at the upper extremity where there is a
natural orifice for the exit of the moth. This orifice is formed, as in
the cocoons of other Saturniide, by the convergence of a great number of
silken fibres, which are left aungummed and are therefore soft and flossy,
opposing an almost impenetrable hedge to any animal which tries to
force its way into the cocoon, but opening readily when pushed aside by
the moth which emerges from within, The moth thus effects its escape
with hardly any perceptible disarrangement of the fibres, which close
together again behind it. The stiff gummed parchment-like wall of the
cocoon passes upon one side of the orifice, so as to form a cord, which is
firmly wrapped around the twig from which the cocoon hangs, thus
securing it from mishap in case the leaves, in which it is wrapped,
become detached. The cocoon contains a tae amount of thick strone
silk which cannot indeed be reeled easily enough to make it worth doing,
but which would have a considerable market value for carding aha
spinning purposes, if lerge quantities could be obtained ; it is said that
some of these cocoons haye been collected in Burma nd exported to
England for this purpose, while attempts have also been made to domes-
ticate the insect in China ; but upon the whole experts seem to be agreed

No. 2.] 7 Wild Sitk Insects of India. 73

that there is no chance of the Atias silk competing successfully with that
of such species as the ¢usser, which can be obtained so much more easily.
Connected with Attacus atlas, besides Attacus edwardsit, which is pro-
bably a distinct though closely allied species, we may notice Attacus
silhetica of Helfer (Journ. A. 8. B. VI, p. 41, 1837) and Attacus tapro.
banis of Moore, Lep. Ceyl. IL, p. 124, 1882), both of which forms, so far
as the descriptions and figures of them go, seem indistinguishable from
Attacus atlas.

Artacus epwarpstl, White. Plate 2, fig. 2.

A large species, somewhat darker in color and with somewhat larger
and differently arranged white markings, but very similar, both in general
appearance and in size to Aétacus atlas, of which it is little more than a
constant variety. It is found in the hillsin many parts of India (Sikkim,
Shillong, Khasi Hills, Mussoorie, Western Ghats, and Mysore), but is
usually scarce. In Sikkim, according to the late Mr. Otto Moller, it is
found at an altitude of from6,000 to 7,000 feet and goes through but one
generation in the year, hibernating as a pupa inside the cocoon, from
which it emerges as a moth during the rains (July to September). The
cocoon is much like that of Attacus atlas, butis somewhat denser in struc-
ture and sufficiently differentin shape tobe distinguishable. The cater-
pillar is very hike that of At/acus atlas, but differs from it markedly in
possessing a number of black speckles on the two anterior pairs of fleshy
protuberances, The specimen from which the drawing of the larva has been
made was obtained by Mr. A. V. Knyvett at Kurseong, Mr. Knyvet de-
scribes the caterpillar as follows :—‘* General color, green-powdered above,
especially on the tentacles, with a white powder which comes off in flakes,
tentacles 2bout half aninch in length, occurring in pairs on the third,
fourth, fifth, sizth, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth, aad eleventh segments,
the twelfth segment being furnished with a singlemedium tentacle: the
tentacles on the third and fourth segment are bluish, dotted with black,
those on the other segments are green at the base, bluish at the apex, and
covered with flakes of white powder; stigmata, light greenish blue in
color; anal claspers with a large vermilion spot.”

Attacus cynTHIA, Drury. late 3,

This species is very closely allied to the erz silk moth (Attacus ricint)
and is probably the original wild form from which the er? has been
derived by domestication. It can, however, be easily distinguished
from the erz, by its larger size and brighter and more golden coloration,
and as the two forms appear to have somewhat different habits, it seems
best to look upon them as belonging to distinct species.

Attacus cynthia is said to range over India, China, and some of the
Malay Islands; in the Indian Museum are specimens from Mussoorie,

e

74 Indian Museum Notes. [ Vol. II.

Sikkim, Shillong, Buxa, and Sibsagar, besides a single specimen from the
Andaman Islands of what seems to be a local variety.

It is said to be common up to 5,000 feet in Sikkim, where, it is
thought to be trivoltine, feeding upon Zanthorylum acanthopodium, or
Z. alatum (Moller). Its larval stages do not appear to have been ob-
served in India. The cocoons, though much smaller in size, are very
similar in structure, coloration, and general appearance to the cocoons of
Attacus atlas; they are smaller and more compact than cocoons of JA.
vicini, but appear nevertheless to contain a considerable amount of silk,
which would no doubt be valuable for carding purposes if it could be
obtained in any considerable quantities. Of late they have appeared in
the Calcutta market, where they are known as Junglies. Mr. G. C, Hodson
writes that they are brought to market by Mahomedans, while the ev? and
muga trade is entirely in the hands of Marwarries. According to Captain
Hutton the insect is also identical with a semi-domesticated species which
is reared on a small scale in some parts of China, upon Azlanthus glandu-
losa, for the production of silk, and which has also been raised experi-
mentally upon the same plant in Europe.

The forms Aétacus guerint (Moore), Attacus obscurus (Butler), Attacus
canningit (Hutton), and Saturnia tole (Westwood), have at different
times been described as distinct species. From the descriptions and figures
that have been given of them, however, they appear to be so nearly related
to A. cynthia and A. ricint that until cause is shown for their separation
itseems best to look upon them assynonyms of one or other of these two
species, Of the species Atiacus vesta (Walker) no description has been
found, and it may, therefore, be neglected. :

The moths, figured on plate 3, were determined by Mr. H. 'J. Elwes;
the cocoon was one furnished by Mr. Otto Moller. °

AcTIAS SELENE, Hiibner. Plate 4.

This species is common :n collections from all parts of India, and is
said to occur in Ceylon and China. In the Indian Museum are speci-
mens from Simla, Shillong, Khasi Hills, Sylhet, Sibsagar, Manbhum,
Gobindpur, Lakhimpur, and from the neighborhood of Caleutta. In
Sikkim, according to Moller, it is fairly common at an elevation of from
3,000 to 5,000 feet. It passes the winter as a pupa inside the cocoon, and
goes through two generations in the summer, the first set of moths
appearing in early spring and the second in July and August. The food
plant of the caterpillar is Zanthorylum acanthopodium or Z. alatum.
In the hills around Mussoorie it was found by Hutton to feed on the
wild cherry, wild pear, walnut, Cedrela paniculata, Coriaria nepalensis
(Munsoory) and several other forest trees. The cocoon is coarse in
texture, yields but little silk, and, as it is not forthcoming in any con-
siderable quantities, 1t has no commercial value,

No, 2.] Wild Sitk Insects of India. "5

The following account of the rearing of the caterpillar in Mussoorie
is taken from Captain Hutton’s writings as given in Moore’s Catalogue
of Lepidoptera in the East India Museum :—

* Moths, found in coiéw in the middle of April, each laid, in the course of a few
days, about 300 eggs which are about the size of mustard seed. After depositing their
eggs the moths rapidly died off and the eggs began to hatch about the end of the
month. The larvee when first hatched are about a quarter of an inch in length,
hairy, and of a pale rufous red with a single black band across the middle of the
body, and a small black transverse mark on the anterior segment; along the back are
two rows of smail tubercles and another along each side, from each of which spring
a few short hairs, the base of which forms a small black dot. There is also an anal
tubercle, larger than the others, and placed between the two last tubercles of the dorsal
rows ; the head is black, . . . The first molt commenced when six days old, and
this occupied three days, so that at the end of nine days the larva appeared in its second
stage. The black transverse band upon the body had disappeared, but the head still
remained of that color, and the rest of the body was hairy and rufous, the tubercles
being black on the summit and more prominent; pro-legs brown. The period between
each change was about ten days in some specimens, but varied in others between that and
shorter periods, . . In the third stage the caterpillar appeared of a bright rufous
color, the black dots, or tubercles, being larger and more prominent, but there were no
black bands. In the fourth stage the change was still more remarkable, for the cater-
pillar now appeared ofa beautiful apple green, each tubercle headed with bright orange,
except the four which spring from the second and third segments, which are ringed
with black and crowned with pale yellow; and the anal and two posterior tubercles,
which are green throughout. From each tubercle springs a small tuft of hair, the
centre one of each being longer than the others; the head and pro-legs brown. Along
each side is a line, which is red above and yellow below, and the spiracles are red ;
there is a line of very small yellow dots along each side between the rows of tubercles.
In the fifth stage the colors are the same as they are in the fourth, also in the sixth
and seventh stages ; but the caterpillar increases rapidly in size, and is most beautiful
and delicate in appearance, with a semi-transparency of hue which makes it look some-
thing like waxwork. One of these commenced spinning its cocoon on the 17th of
July, being then about forty-six or forty-seven days old, and the remainder after the
interval of a day or two; that is, on the 19th, 20th, and 25th July. The cocoon is
formed of coarse brown silken threads, closely interwoven and of an ovate form. It is
inclosed among the leaves of the tree, which are, in fact, glued closely vound it. It is
hard and not furnished interiorly with a soft silken bed, the chrysalis lying within a
hard and hollow chamber. The chrysalis remained thus until the 14th August, when
the one which had turned on the 17th July produced a perfect female after a period
of twenty-nine days. Another, which had turned on the 19th July, came forth a
male on the 16th August, showing the time to be pretty uniform. A large caterpillar,
however, found in the forest on the 16th July, turned to a chrysalis on the 24th of
that month; but, instead of coming forth in the autumn, it remained in the ehrysalis
state throughout the winter, as did some others, coming out in the following summer,
namely on the 11th, i4th, and 18th of June.” : 2

Hutton also describes the manner in which the moth works its way
out of the cocoon by the aid of its wing spurs, which seem to have a
cutting edge and to be used to sever the silk strands of the cocoon.

The moths from which the figures were made were determined by
Mr. H. J. Elwes; the cocoon was furnished by the late Mr, Otto Moller.

76 Indian Museum Notes. [ Vol, I,

Actias Leto, Doubleday. Plate 5.

This is a large insect allied to Actias selene ; it is found at low eleva-
tions in the Himalayas and in Assam. According to Moller it is
bivoltine, hibernating as a pupa inside its cocoon, the moths appearing
in spring and autumn, its food plant in Sikkim being Turpina pomifera.
In the Indian Museum, besides specimens of the moth from Sikkim,
Buxa, and Sibsagar, there is a cocoon received from Sikkim as belonging
to this species. It is much like cocoons of A. selene in structure and
_ appearance, but is remarkable for a number of neat round holes, each
about the sixteenth of an inch in diameter which penetrate the cocoon
on all sides; these, however, may possibly have been caused by hymen-
opterous parasites.! Little seems to be known about the species, which
is far too rare to have any value as asilk producer. It is chiefly remark-
able for the great difference in the shape and coloration of the two sexes,
which are so dissimilar in appearance that they were for many years.
thought to be distinct species, and in most works on Entomology are
described—the male as A. leto, the female as 4. menas. Connected
with Actias letois a form which is found in the Andaman Islands and
which has been described by Moore under the name of Actias ignescens
(P Z. 8. 1877, p. 602). There are no representatives of it in the Indian
Museum, but from the description it appears to be little more than a
local variety of A. deto.

The moths from which the figures were made were: determined by
Mr. H. J. Elwes ; the cocoon was furnished by the late Mr. Otto Mller.

ANTHER@HA FRITHIT, Moore, Plate 6.

In the Indian Museum are specimens of this species from Sikkim,
Sibsagar, and Buxa. According to Moller it is a bivoltine species,
eommon at low elevations in Sikkim, where it feeds upon sal (Shorea
robusta), hibernating as a pupa, and the moths appearing in March and
August, respectively. Rondot (L’Art de la Soie II, p. 117, 1887) writes
that according to Fallon, who reared it in France, the larva is of an ochre
yellow, ringed with black. The cocoons are yellowish white in color
and very'similar to those of 4. roylei, but less silky on the exterior.
According to Kondot they contain a considerable amount of silk. The
above seems to be all that is known of Antherea frithti, which is too
scarce to be likely to be of any use as a silk producer.

The specimens from which the figures were made were reared in the
Indian Museum from cocoons furnished by the late Mr. Otto Moller.

1 Since the above was written information has been received from Mr. A. V. Knyvett,
who has observed this species in Sikkim,'and has found the holes invariably present
jn the cocoons.

No- 2.1 Wild Sitk Insects of India. | 17

ANTHER@A HELFERI, Moore, Plate 7, fig. 1.

In the Indian Museum are several moths of both sexes of this species
from Sikkim, but there are no authentic cocoons, and little seems to be
known about it beyond the bare fact of its occurrence in Sikkim, and
Hutton’s observation (Journ. Agri. Hort. Soc. Ind. IIL, p. 125, 1871)
that the cocoon resembles that of the Tusser (Antherea mylitta).
The insect is far too scarce to have any commercial value whatever.
The moth from which the figure of the male was made was determined
by Mr. H. J. Elwes. The figure of the female is taken from a specimen
in Colonel A. M. Lang’s collection determined by Mr. F. Moore.

ANTHERHA ROYLEI, Moore. Plate 9.

In the Indian Museum are specimens of this species from Simla,
Mussoorie, Sikkim, and the Khasi Hills, also a cocoon from Sikkim. It
is said to be very closely allied to Antherea pernyt, a semi-domesticated
species largely reared upon oaks in China for the production of silk.
Rondot, indeed, in his L’Art de la Soie, Vol. II, notices that a hybrid
race has been obtained by crossing 4. pernyz males with A. roylei
females. If, therefore, Hutton is right in saying that 4. roylez can
- be easily reared upon the common hill oak (Qwereus dilatata ?), it is not
by any means impossible but that it may become of value for the
production of silk in the Himalayas, the cocoons being of a kind which
would certainly be valuable for carding, if not for reeling purposes,
Little has hitherto been recorded about this insect, though it has been
bred by several people both in India and in Europe (see Entomologist,
XIV, p. 246, and Bull. Soc. Ent. France (5), IV, p. 154). Hutton
writes in the Journ. Agri. Hort. Soc. Ind. III, p. 125, 1871:
“Antherea roylet is common at Simla, Mussoorie, Almora, and I think
Darjiling. It feeds upon the common hill oak, spinning a large but thin
cocoon between three or four leaves . . . . The outer coating is
very’ strong, and I do not think it could be reeled, but within this case is
the true cecoon, of an oval form and yielding good silk. The worms are
easily reared and sometimes give two or three crops, but this is when
treated in the house.” Major Harford also, writing recently from the
North-West Himalayas, notices the peculiar double-walled cocoons which
he has found upon dex (hill oak?) and the khakee colored males and
pinkish females he has bred from them. Some observations also on the
habits of 4. roylez, by the late Mr. Otto Moller, appeared on page 201
of Vol. I of these Notes ; it is thought, however, that these observations
referred to some other species, as the cocoon forwarded with them was
single-walled and pedunculate, instead of having the double-walled struc-
ture characteristic of typical 4. roylec cocoons. A double-walled cocoon -
found by Mr. A. V. Knyvett on a chestnut tree in Sikkim was sent to

78 Indian Museum Notes. L Vor ak
the Indian Museum in May 1890, and produced, in the early part of the
rains, a female moth of the typical pinkish color, and Mr. Knyvett also
writes that he has found 4. roylez cocoons on Mohwa trees, oak, and
birch in Sikkim. The above is all that we at present know about 4.
roylet proper. The figures of. the caterpillar and cocoon are taken from
specimens obtained by Mr, A. V. Knyvett in Sikkim ; those of the moths
from Hutton’s type specimens which are in the Indian Museum collection.
Closely connected with A. roydec proper is an insect with a firm singled-
walled pedunculate cocoon which has been found by Mr. A. V. Knyvett
upon wild cherry trees in Sikkim. The cocoons of this form, which have
been sent to the Indian Museum, are much like the cocoons of Antherea
frithu, but moths reared from them by Mr. Knyvett are almost indistin-
guishable from moths reared from the typical double-walled cocoons of
A. roylez, the chief distinction consisting in the greater pinkness of those
yeared from the pedunculate cocoons, As, however, the females reared
from double-walled cocoons show every variety of color from pink to
greenish brown, and are in some cases altogether indistinguishable from
females reared from pedunculate cocoons, it would seem most probable
that the difference in the structure of the cocoon is to be attributed more
to the difference in the food plant than to any specific distinetness in the
insects. The differences observed by Mr. Knyvett between the caterpil-
lars of the two forms, though very remarkable, not being of a sufficiently
radical nature to warrant their separation under distinct specific names.

Oax Sirk Worms or Cuina and Japan. Plate 7, fig. 2, and plate 8.

An account of Antherea royler, which is the oak-feeding silk worm of
the Himalayas, would be incomplete without a notice of the very closely
allied oak-feeding silk worms of China and Japan. These are Antherea
pernyt (Guérin Méneville, Rev. et Mag. de Zool. 1855, p. 297, pl. 6, fig. 1),
which is reared in a semi-domesticated state over large areas in Northern
China, for the production of silk, and Anthere@a yamamai, which is
the corresponding form in Japan, About twenty-five years ago, when
mulberry silk raising in Europe was threatened with extinction, these
species attracted a good deal of attention, and were introduced’ and
partially acclimatized in France by experimentors, who hoped to furnish a
substitute for the mulberry-feeding species. The revival of the mul-
berry silk industry, however, with the adoption of Pasteur’s treatment for
the silk worm disease, has thrown the oak-feeding species again into the

1 As told by Van Westmaas (Tijd Voor. Ent. VII, 1864), the story of the obtaining
of the eggs of A. yamamat, through a young Japanese, who in 1862 risked his life to get
them for M. Pompe van Meerdervoort in Japan, recalls the difficulties encountered in the
middle ages by the monks who first introduced the eggs of the mulberry-feeding species into
Europe from China.

No. 2.] Wild Silk Insects of India. 79

shade, so that the experiments, which at one time seemed distinetly pro-
' mising, have not led to any practical results. That 4. pernyi and A.
yamamai axe at least very closely allied to A. roylez is shown not only by
the great superficial resemblance of the three forms (wzde plates 7 and 8),
but also from the fact that hybrids have been raised in Europe both
between 4. pernyt and A. yamamaz (Berce and Goossens: Bull. Soc. Ent.
France (5), LV, p. 154), and also between JA, roylec and A. pernyt (Wailly :
Ent. X1V, p. 246). An excellent account of A. pernyi in China is given
by Rondot (L’Art de Ja Soie, I, 1887, p. 127). The following is an
abstract :—

Antherea pernyi is a bivoltine species found both wild and also in a semi-do-
mesticated state upon oak trees in many parts of China, where it is reared extensively
for the production of silk. The amount of fresh cocoons annually reared has been
estimated at twenty-two millions of kilogrammes, of which a considerable amount is
imported into Europe. Two yields of silk are obtained in the year, one in the spring
and another in the autumn; the spring rearing occupying about sixty days and the
autumn rearing about ahundred. The insect is generally reared indoors, but to a certain
extent also upon trees or bushes in the open air. The worm is also common in a wild
state in the forests and copses of oak trees on the mountain sides. In Koiieitcheou
(according to Father Perny) there is an annual variety of the worm which is less es-
teemed than the bivoltine one, a fact which is noticeable in connection with the ten-
dency to become annual, which has been observed in the species when reared in France.
The cocoon is enveloped in two or three oak leaves drawn together by a network of
silken strands, and is further attached at one end to some small branch or leafstalk
by aflat silkencord. The cocoon of the spring rearing contains only about half as much
silk as that of the autumn rearing, but the silk itself is far more brilliant, that of the
autumn rearing being somewhat dull and lustreless. The cocoons are either reeled or
spun. ‘The reeling is done in two ways—either wet or dry. In the dry process the
eccoons, after having been dipped in a mordant made from oakwood ashes, are washed
in clean water and are then reeled dry, the basket containing them, however, being
sometimes steamed over a vessel of boiling water. In the wet process, the cocoons
are simply reeled as they lie in the iron boiler, which contains either a solution of raw
soda or strong mordant made out of oak ashes, the liquid being but just sufficient to
cover the cocoons; the wet process therefore differs materially from that of mulberry
silk filatures, where deep basins of water are used for holding the cocoons while they
are in process of reeling, Of the wet and dry processes, the dry one is preferred and
gives the most satisfactory results. A large portion of the autumn crop and all the
pierced cocoons are spun, the spinning being done either by hand or with a jenny
worked by the foot.

The figures of A. roylez are from specimens in the Indian Museum;
those of A, yamamai after Snellen’s figures (Tijd Voor. Ent. VII, 1864) ;
those of A. pernyt after Guérin Méneville’s figures (Rev. et: M ag. de
Zool., 1855).

Oruer Inptan Species oF ANTHERMA.

Besides the cultivated species—Antherea mylitia (Tusser), 4. assame
(Muga)—deseribed in Vol. 1, No. 3 of these Notes, and the wild
species—Antherea roylei, A. helferi, and A. frithiz, which have been
noticed above, five other Indian species of the genus Antherea have
been described by entomologists. There are no specimens of them, how-

80 Indian Museum Notes. [ Vol. II,

ever, in the Indian Museum collection, and it seems very doubtful to
what extent they are entitled to be looked upon as distinct. They are as
follows :—(1) Auther@a cingalesa of Moore from Ceylon : Moore’s figure of
the moth, in his Lepidoptera of Ceylon, Vol. II,is very like some forms
of A. mylitta, but his figure of the larva presents certain peculiarities ; (2)
Antheraa andamana of Moore, from the Andaman Islands: no figure seems
to have been published of this insect, and as no comparisen is drawn,
in the description, between it and other Autheraas, it is impossible to judge
to what extent it is distinct ; (3) Antherea perrottetit of Guérin Méneville
from Pondicherry. This insect, according to Walker (B. M. Cat. Lep. VI,
p. 1879), is very nearly allied to A. assama, and Guérin Méneville’s de-
scription of the cocoon (Mag. de Zool. VI, pl. 123, 1844) also answers
to that of A. assama, so it is not improbable that it may be a variety
of that species, though Guérin Méneville’s figure of the moth presents some
peculiarities. According to Rondot (L’ Art de la Sote, II, p. 117) it feeds
upon Hugenia jambolana, Zizyphus sp. and other trees; (4) Antherea
stmplicia of Massen and Weymer, from the “ East Indies.’ The writer
has not had an opportunity of comparing the description of this species,
so its precise habitat and identity remain to be ascertained ; (5) dn-
therea fraterna of Moore (P. Z. 8. 1888, p. 402) from Kussowlee and
Kangra: this species also is unknown to the writer.

Cricuia TRIrpNEsTRATA, Herr Schiff. Plate 10, fig. 1.

This variable species is said to be common in all parts of tropical India,
and especially in Burma, Assam, and Chota Nagpore, The Indian
Museum possesses specimens from Sikkim, Sibsagar, Cachar, Dacca, the
Andaman Islands, and Java. “The larve are usually found upon mango
trees, but also feed upon a number of other trees; they are gregarious in
their habits and spin large agglutinated masses of gorgeous reticulated
coccons, which are of the color and brilliancy of molten gold when fresh.
They are thought by some silk experts to be likely to prove valuable for
carding purposes, though Stack in his account of Silk in Assam (1884)
reports that the silk is almost worthless. He writes: ‘The cocoons
are of a thin and open texture, yielding very little silk, which cannot
be reeled. The worm is covered with hairs, which produce irritation
of the skin, and for this reason it is regarded as unclean by the Hindus,
but Kacharis, Rabhas, and Meches occasionally mix the silk with erz,
where it reveals its presence by the itching it causes, This irritating
property of the worm is said to protect it against crows and bats.”’ *

1 Mr. G. C. Hodgson writes :—“The Oricula trifenestrata found in Ranchi would be a
valuable silk for carding purposes, but so far we have never been able to get it in a form
fit for export. The chrysalids are usually alive when brought to Calcutta, whilst for com-
mercial purposes they must be thoroughly dessiccated before being screwed into bales.”

No. 2. 1 Wild Silk Insects of India. 81

The insect is said to go through a series of generations in the year,
each generation taking about two months to complete, and the rains
broods being the strongest and producing most silk.

The moths from which the figures were made were leiecmainad by

Mr. H. J. Elwes.

CRICULA DREPANOIDES, Moore. Plate 10, fig. 2.

This insect differs very markedly from C. trifenestrata in general
coloration ; it is recorded as occurring in Sikkim, from which locality also
the Indian Museum possesses specimens. Nothing seems to be known
on the subject of its habits. It is presumably very rare,

The moth from Tes the figure was taken was determined by Mr. H.
J. Elwes.

Ruopia NewaRA, Moore. Plate 11.

This fine’species is common in Sikkim, where it spins a brillant green
eocoon, with slit-like opening at the upper extremity, through which
the moth makes its escape, and drain-like passage at the bottom, which
is supposed to serve for the escape of any water which may happen to
enter the cocoon during the rainy season owing to the imperfect
closing of the upper slit. According to Moller the insect is found at an
elevation of from 4,000 to 7,000feet in Sikkim, and goes through but
one generation in the year; it hibernates in the egg; the larvae
_ emerge early in the spring, and finish spinning their cocoons by the
end of May; the moth appears during the first half of November at
5,000 feet, and somewhat earlier at higher elevations; the larve feed

upon the weeping willow and wild walnut.

The specimen from which the figure of the moth was taken has been
determined by Mr. H. J. Elwes; the cocoon was furnished by the late
Mr. Otto Moller.

SATURNIA STOLICZKANA Felder. Plate 13, fig. 4.

This species was figured by Felder (Reise Novara, Lep., pl]. 87, fig. 8,
1864—75) from Ladak. Nothing seems to have been recorded about it,
but in the Indian Museum are some broken wings from an elevation of
10,500 feet in Lahoul, and also a specimen from, Kulu, which answer to
the figure.

SaTURNIA crposA Moore.

S. cidosa (Moore, Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond.(3), 11, p. 423, pl. 22, fig.
2, 1864—66) is represented in the Museum collections by a single “aii
from Sikkim. According to Hutton (Journ. Agri. Hort. Soe. Ind., iii,
1871, p. 125) it is closely allied to 8S. pyretorum,

89 Indian Museum Notes. [Vol. IT.

SATURNIA PYRETORUM, Westwood.

This species was originally described by Westwood, (Cab. Or. Ent.,
p- 49, pl. 24, fig. 2, 1848) from China, and was noticed by Hutton
(Journ. Agri. Hort. Soc. India, III, p. 125, 1871) as occurring in Sik-
kim and Cachar; there seems, however, to be some doubt as to whether
it extends into India. In China, according to the resumé given by Ron-
dot (L’Art de la Sote, 11, 1887, p. 205), the caterpillar is of medium size,
longitudinally streaked with bright turquoise blue, alternating with
canary yellow, and covered with bristling yellow hairs; it feeds chiefly
upon the Lequidambar formosana and camphor trees. The cocoon is
ovoid, much produced in lengta, pointed, open at one end, and sur.
rounded with floss, which is deep brown in color. The silk is silver grey
or brownish grey in color, coarse and very tough ; it is said to be used on
a considerable scale commercially, the silk glands of the worm being also
used for the preparation of gut for fishing lines.

OTHER SaTURNIAS,

Saturnia grotet (Plate 13, fig. 2), Saturnia lindia, Saturnia anna, and
Saturnia hockingts are so closely allied to each other that it seems most
convenient to consider them together, as very little is known about any
of them. Saturnia grotes (Moore P. Z. 8. 1859, p. 265, pl. 65, fig. 2,
and Butler, Ill, Typ. Lep. Het. B. M. V, p. 61, pl. 94, figs. 3 and 4)
is represented in the Museum collections by specimens from Kulu and
Sikkim ; Saturnia lindia (Moore, Tr. KE. Soe. (3), i, p. 424, pl. 22, fig. 3,
1864—66) by specimens from the N.-W. Himalayas; Saturnia anna
(Moore, P. Z. S. 1865, p. 818) by specimens from Sikkim ; while Saturnia
hockingit (Moore, P. Z. 8. 1865, p. 818 and Butler, Il, Typ. Lep.
Het, B. M. VII, p. 39, pl. 124, figs. 2 and 3), described from Kulu, is
not represented in the Museum Collection. It should be noticed for the
fact that Moore records that the cocoon, which is formed “under
stones, ”’ is “ pyriform, dark brown, hard, pointed, and lax at the upper
end.” The specimen from which the figure of 8. grote: was taken has
been identified by Mr. H. J. Elwes.

La@pa KaTINKA, Westw.

Four species of the genus Loepa have been described from India,
viz. Loepa katinka (Westw., Cab, Or. Ent., p. 25, pl. 12, fig. 2, 1848),
found in Sikkim, at an elevation of from 5,000 to 7,000 feet, and also
in Assam; L. miranda (Moore, Trans. Ent. Soc., Lond. (3), i, p. 424,
1864—66) from Sikkim; LZ. sikkima (Moore, P. Z. S., 1865, p. 818)
from the hot valleys in Sikkim ; Z. sivalzca (Hutton, Journ. A. H. Soe,
Ind., III, 1871, p. 125, and Moore, Wardle’s Wild Silk, 1881, p. 7) from
Mussoorie. In the Indian Museum are specimens, determined by Mr.

No. 2.] Wild Silk Insects of India. 83

Moore as belonging to the three forms—fatinka, miranda, and sikhima,
together with intermediate varieties ; so, taking into consideration the
fact that the three forms are found within a few miles of each other in
Sikkim, it seems very doubtful whether they are really distinct, With
regard to the fourth form,—J. sivalica,—found by Hutton in Mussoorie
at an elevation of 5,500 feet, Hutton notes that it is closely allied to
L. katinka, while Moore writes that it spins a long cocoon, pointed at
each end, and of a dark greenish grey color. The above, with Atkin-
son’s note (P. Z. S. 1865, p. 818) tothe effect that moths of the Z.
sikkima form appear in the beginning of August, while Z. katinka
appears later, concludes what has been recorded on the subject of this
genus in India.!

The specimen of L. miranda from which the figure has been taken
is in Colonel A. M. Lang’s collection ; it was identified by Mr. F. Moore.

Neoris uuttoni, Moore. Plate 15, fig. 3.

In the Indian Museum are a male and female of this species from
Mussoorie. Hutton notices that he found the larve at 6,500 feet eleva-
tion in Mussoorie in April feeding on the wild pear tree, the cocoon
being an open network worthless for silk production (Journ. Agri. Hort.
Soe. Ind. III, 1871, p. 125). A second species of this genus has been
described by Moore (P. Z. S., 1872, p. 577) under the name of Neoris
shadulla, from the neighbourhood of Yarkand; there are no specimens
of it in the Indian Museum.

The figures of WV. Auttont are from Captain Hutton’s specimens.

SaLassa Lota, Westw. Plate 12, fig. 1.

This fine species was described by Westwood (Cab. Or. Ent., p, 25,
pl. 12, fig. 8, 1848) from Sylhet, and the Indian Museum possesses
specimens of it from Sikkim. With regard tv its habits, Mr. A, V.
Knyvett has observed in Sikkim that the caterpillar, previous to trans-
forming into a chrysalis, spins a few leaves and chips together into a
sort of rough covering in the ground eseally as is done by the species
Salassa (Saturnia) royt.

The specimen from which the Aatites of the moths were taken was
determined by Mr. H. J. Elwes; the caterpillar was drawn from a spe-
cimen furnished by Mr. A. V. Knyvett.

SaLassa RoYI, Elwes. Plate 12, fig. 2.

This species was described by Elwes (P. Z. S., 1887, p. 447, and
Trans. Ent. Soc., Lond., 1888, pl. 8, fig. 2) from a male taken at an

1 Since the above was written the following note has been received from Mr. A. V.
Knyvett, who has observed this genus in Sikkim: “The high elevation form Z. katinka is
quite distinct from the hot valley form, which may be either LZ, miranda or L. sikkima.”

BA Indian Museum Notes. [ Vol. II.

elevation of 10,000 feet in Sikkim. It was originally referred to the
genus Saturnia, but the observations of Mr. A. V. Knyvett indicate
pretty clearly that it should rather be included in the genus Salassa. Ac-
cording to Mr, Knyvett, the caterpillars are very like those of Salassa
lola, only bigger; the chrysalis also is formed in the ground in a little, .
loose silk, much as is the case with Salassa lola.

The male was figured from specimens determined by Mr. H. J. Elwes,
the female from a specimen deposited for a short time in the Indian
Museum by the late Mr. Otto Moller.

CatiauLa sim~a, Westw. Plate 14, fig. 1.

In the Indian Museum are specimens of this species from Simla,
Mussoorie, Sikkim, and Khasi Hills, besides cocoons which are supposed
to belong to it’ and which were obtained in Dehra Dun, probably from
the Mussoorie Hills. Hutton writes (Journ, Agri. Hort. Soc. Ind., iii,
1871, p. 125) thatethe larva feeds on walnut, Salyx babylonica, and
wild pear, the cocoon being a coarse open network, through which the
pupa is visible, and yielding no silk.

CaLicuLa THIBETA, Westw. Plate 14, jig. 2.

In the Indian Museum is a male of this species obtained from Sik-
kim. According to Hutton (Journ. Agri. Hort. Soc., Ind., ITI, 1871,
p. 125) the original specimen from which the species was deseribed came
from Kumaon, and he also found it in Mussoorie on Pieris ovalifolia.
It seems to be a well marked species, quite distinct from C. simla. A
third species of the genus Caligula, viz. C. cachara, was described by
Moore (P. Z. 8, 1872, p. 578) from Cachar ; there are no specimens of it
in the Indian Museum. Butler (Ill. Typ. Lep. Het. B. M. V, p. 61, pl.
94, fie. 2, 1851) describes a species from Sikkim, under the name of
Rinaca extenea. From the figure this insect would seem to be indistin-
suishable from C. thebeta.

The figure of C. ¢hzbetais from a specimen determined by Mr, H. J.

Elwes.

Rinaca ZULEIKA, Hope. Plate 14, fig. 3 (Trans. Linn. Soc., Lond.,
XIX, p. 182, pl. 11, fig. 5, 1845).

This species has been recorded from Sylhet, Sikkim, and Simla; the
Indian Museum possesses moths from Sikkim, also a single chrysalis case,
but no cocoon. Rondot (L’ Art de la Soie, II, 1887, p. 205) writes that
the cocoon is reticulated and without economic value. According to
Moller, the caterpillars feed in Sikkim upon the plants Actimodaphne
sikkimensis and Acer caudatum vel campbellii. According to Mr, A. V.
Knyvett, the caterpillar is to be found at anelevation of about.7,000

No. 2. ] Wald Silk Insects of India. 85

feet in Sikkim through October and November. It spins a rough
Open cocoon on the ground at the foot of the fooa plant, the moth
emerging in the following August.

The figure is from a specimen determined by Mr. H. J. Elwes.

BraumMama certuia, Fabr. Plate 15, fig. 1 (Ent. Syst. iii, I, p. 412,
1793).

This species is represented in the Museum Collection by specimens
from Sikkim and Shillong. Nothing seems to have been recorded of
its habits or development, Three closely alliel forms—B. whiter
Butler, from North-West India, B. conchifera, Butler, from Sylhet and
Darjiling, B. wallichiz, Gray, from Assam and Nepal—have been figured
by Butler (Ill, Typ. Lep. Het. B, M. V, pl. 95, figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6).
They appear to be so closely related to B. certhia as to be scarcely distin-
guishable from it. A fourth form—B, rufescens—Butler, from North-
East Bengal, has been described (Ann. Mag. N. H. 5, VI, p. 62, 1880)
as related to, and in some respects intermediate between, the others. It
seems most convenient to await further observation on the habits and
life histories of these insects before endeavouring to separate them
into distinct species.

The figure of B. certhia is from a specimen determined by Mr. H.
J. Elwes.

THEOPHILA HUTTONI, Westw. Plate 15, fig. 3.

This is a bivoltine species, which iscommon upon wild mulberry trees
on the lower slopes of the North-West Himalayas. The caterpillars of
the first generation, according to Hutton (Trans. Ent. Soc., Lond. ,3, 1,
1864—66 ; and Journ. Agri. Hort. Soc., Ind., III, 1871), appear about’
April, and the cocoons are formed in May and September respectively.
The insect hibernates in the form of eves glued on to the bark ofits food
plant. The cocoon is whitish in color and of soft loose consistence, not
unlike the cocoons of some Bengal Boméyx silk worms, but much less
compact ; itis formed between the leaves of the food plant. The silk is
of excellent quality, and, according to Cope’(Rondot, LZ’ Art de la Sore, II
p- 6), can be reeled ; so, if it could be obtained in any considerable quan-
tities, there,is little doubt but that it would be of value. Hutton’s attempt,
however, to cultivate it for commercial purposes proved unsuccessful, as
the worms were too restless to submit to domestication in the house, and
when left at liberty upon the trees were so much attacked by birds and
predaceous insects as to render the yield of silk unprofitable. It is possi-
ble that the restlessness exhibited by the worms, when under cover, may
have been due to want of the moisture to which they are ordinarily ex-
posed on the hill slopes; this having proved to be the case with tusser

86 : Indian Museum Notes. [ Vol, ie

(Antheraa-mylitta) whose larve can only be raised in captivity when
they are frequently watered (see footnote to page 160 of the first volume
of these Notes). Even if this should turn out to be the case, however, with
T. huttont, it would seem of doubtful utility to employ mulberry leaves
for rearing it, when they might with no greater expenditure of labor be
utilized for rearing one of the Bombyx varieties which are already domes-
ticated and which produce a silk whose commercial value is undoubted.

The figure of the larva is copied from a colored drawing prepared by
the Museum artist under the direction of Mr. Wood-Mason.

Cmected with Zheophila huttont are several forms which are so
closely allied to it as to make it very doubtful to what, extent they can
reasonably be looked upon as distinct. They are the following :—

(1) Theophila religiosa (= Bombyx religiosa, Helfer, Journ. As. Soe.
Beng:, Vol. VI, p. 41, 1837).—This insect feeds upon the Pipal tree
(Ficus religiosa) in Assam. Helfer originally described it, without see-
ing the insect, from a figure which was sent to him, and Moore (Cat.
Lep. Mus. E. I. C., p. 381, 1858) writes : “ After examination of
typical specimens of B. hutiont, and comparing them with the deserip-.
tions of Dr. Helfer’s B. relzgiosa, I am inclined to believe that they are
one and the same species.” This form therefore may be neglected.

(2) Theophila bengaiensis (Hutton, Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. (3), ii,
p. 822, pl. 19, fig. 5,1864—66 ; and Journ. Agri. Hort. Soc, Ind. iii, 1871,
p. 125).—This form feeds upon the Artocarpus lacoocha tree, in Lower
Bengal, and has been also found at an elevation of 2,000 feet in Sikkim
upon Artocarpus chaplasha (see page 200 of Vol. I of these Notes). The
moth and cocoon closely resemble the typical 7. huttont from the
North-West Himalayas, but the larvee, as figured by Hutton, differ from
7. huttoni Jarve both in being greyish white, instead of yellow mottled
with brown, and in having somewhat smaller spines. If this difference
should prove constant, 7’. bengalensis; feeding as it does upon a different
plant and living in a different locality, might be considered to constitute
a distinct species. For the present, however, it seems most convenient to
look upon it as a variety only; and this view is supported by the fact
that the form which has been described as 7. afinis is to a certain
extent intermediate between 7’. hutione and T. bengalensis.

The figure of the larva (Plate 15, fig. 4) is copied from a colored
drawing prepared by the Museum artist under the direction of Mr.
W ood-Mason.

(3) Theophila afinis, plate 15, fig. 2 (Hutton, Journ. Agri. Hort.
Soc. Ind. III, p. 125, 1871).—This form was described by Hutton as
resembling 7. huttoxe in shape, coloration and marking, and differing
from it only in its smaller size and in being polyvoltine. In Chota
Nagpur the caterpillar feeds, like 7’. dengalenszs, upon the Arlocarpus

No. 2.] Wild Silk Insects of India. 87

lacoocha tree, but Hutton succeeded in rearing it upon mulberry. In
the Indian Museum are moths and cocoons of this form from Gobind-
pur; also a moth which is thought to be Hutton’s type from Chota Nags
pur; they are indistinguishable from moths of 7. dengalensis from the
neighbourhood of Calcutta. There is also a carefully colored drawing
made by a Native artist in the Museum, of a full grown larva from
Gobindpur, showing the yellow and brown markings and the prominent
spines which are supposed tobe characteristic of T. huttont. T. afinis,
therefore, may belooked upon as intermediate between T. bengalensis
and 7. huttont, and is consequently a variety of the latter.

The figures of the moth and of the cocoon are from specimens in the
Museum Collection; that of the larva is copied from a colored draw-
ing made by the Museum artist under the direction of Mr. Wood-
Mason; the cocoon is from a photograph taken by Mr. Wood-Mason.

(4) Theophila sherwitli (Bombyx sherwiltt, Moore, Trans. Ent. Soc:
Lond. 3, II, p. 423, pl. XXII, fig. 1, 1864—66; also Hutton Joc. c7t.,
p- 324).—This form was described from a moth said to have been obtained
in the Eastern Himalayas ; nothing, however, has been recorded of its
habits or transformations. The original figure and description of the
moth would answer completely to a large specimen of the variety 7’. ben-
_galensis, with the exception of the black tip to the abdomen which 7’.
sherwilli is represented as possessing. In the absence, therefore, of fur-
ther information, this form may be looked upon as a somewhat excep-
tionally marked specimen of 7. huttonz, var. bengalensts.

Tritocua varians, Walker. Plate 15, fig. 5.

This small species is common all over India and Ceylon; it spins a
minute but compact cocoon of yellowish silk between the leaves of the
trees upon which it feeds. It is fairly common, but the cocoons are not
found in any large quantities together, and are far too small to make it
worth while to collect them individually. In Calcutta the moths are
often attracted by lamps into houses in the cold weather and the larve
have been reared in the Indian Museum upon the leaves of Bukool tree
(Mimusops elengr), According to Hutton (‘Tr. EK. 8. III, 2, p. 331, 1864-6),
Grote found itin February and March in Caleutta feeding on Trophis
aspera, Ficus indica, and Ficus religiosa, while in Madras Elliot found it
upon Ficus religiosa; and according to Moore (Lep. Ceyl. II, p. 136)
Thwaites found it in Ceylon upon Artocarpus sntegrifolia. Nothing fur-
ther seems to have been recorded of its life history, but from the fact of
the moths and larve being found in the middle of the cold weather
it would seem likely to be a polyvoltine.

The figures are from specimens reared in the Indian Museum.

88 Indian Museum Notes. [ Vol. If.

TRILOCHA ALBICOLLIS, Walker.

Larve of this species were found by Forsayeth in August, feeding
upon Pipul (£2cus religiosa) in Mhow, the moths emerging the same
month (Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. p. 408, 1884). Forsayeth’s description
and figures of the various stages of the insect agree very closely with
the 7’. varzans of Calcutta, and it would seem by no means improbable
that the two forms are little more than varieties of each other. A third
species—Trzlocha cervina, was described by Walker (Brit. Mus. Cat. Lep.
Het. xxxu, p. 489, 1865) from India; but no particulars are given beyond
a bare description of the moth. The precise locality is unknown, and
there are no specimens in the Indian Museum; so, the form must
either be extremely rare or identical with one of the better known species,

OcinaRa Lipa, Moore.

This species was originally described (Cat. Lep. Mus. E. I. C., p. 381,
1858) from Java, and an account of its habits was subsequently given
(Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. 3, iI, p. 826, 1864—66) by Hutton, who named
it in the first instance O. moorez, but afterwards recognized its identity
with 0. dada of Moore (Journ. Agri. Hort. Soc. Ind. III, p. 125, 1571).
Hutton found it between 5,000 and 6,000 feet elevation in Mussoorie in
the North-West Himalayas, where it feeds upon the leaves of Ficus
_venosa, and spins a small white oval cocoon. ‘The cocoon is generally
enveloped in a leaf, and covered with loose silk ; it 1s to be found both in
May and August, and Hutton supposed that at least two, and perhaps
three or four, generations are gone through in the year. He considers
the cocoon too small to be of any use. The larva is rough and resembles
the bark so closely as to be very difficult to be distinguished from the
latter upon the twigs to which it clings.

OocinaRa Lactea. Plate 10, fig. 3 (Hutton, Trans.Ent. Soc. Lond. 3, II,
p. 382, 1864-66).

This species was found by Hutton feeding with O. lida upon Ficus
venosa in Mussoorie. The two forms are evidently closely allied and have
very similar habits, but Hutton was of opinion that they are distinct, and
as there are no satisfactory specimens of O. dida in the Indian Museum, it
has not been possible to compare them. O. dactea is represented in the
Museum collection by specimens from Sikkim and Kulu, as well as from
Mussoorie ; so, it is probable that the species extends throughout the Hima-
layas, though it is too rare and the cocoons are too small for it to have any
value as a silk producer. The figure of the moth is from Captain Hut-
ton’s specimen in the Indian Museum ; that of the larva is after Captain
Hutton’s figure in the Trans. Ent, Soc. Lond.

No. 2. ] Wild Silk Insects of India. 89

Ocinara comma (Hutton, Trans. Ent. Soe. Lond. 3, II, p. 330, 1864—66).

In the Indian Museum are moths which are thought to be Hut-
ton’s type specimens of this species from Dehra Dun (2,300 feet eleva-
tion in the North-West Himalayas), where, according to Hutton, they
are found upon mango trees. They are very similar in appearance, and
seem to be closely allied to O. dactea.

OcINARA DIAPHANA, Moore.

This species was described by Moore (Descr. Ind. Lep. Atk. I, p. 83,
1879) from the Khasia hills in Assam. Nothing seems to ke known about
it beyond Moore’s note that the male moth differs from O. lactea of
Hutton “in the absence of the black markings on the forewing and on
the abdominal margin.” These appear to be characters of very second-
ary importance, so it may reasonably be inferred that, like O. comma and
O. lida, it is very closely related to O. lactea,

OtHER InpIAN BomMBYcIDs.

Aristhala sikkima (Moore, P. Z, S. 1879, p. 406, pl. 33. fig. 8)
from Sikkim, Aristhala thwaitesiz (Moore, Lep. Ceyl. II, p. 136, pl.
33, fig. 2, 1882 from Ceylon, and Primosticta fenestrata, Butler (Il.,
Typ. Lep. Het. B. M. VI, p. 20, pl. 106, fig. 5, 1886) are usually
included in the family of Bombycid@ ; so, they are noticed here, though
nothing is known of them beyond the bare descriptions and figures which
bave been published of the moths. There are no specimens of them in
the Indian Museum, and it is even doubtful whether they spin cocoons;
so, they may be neglected in considering the silk-producing species which
are to be found in India.?

1The species—Hanisa subnotata (Walker, Journ. Linn, Soc. Lond. III, p. 188, 1859 ; and
Moore, P. Z. S., 1879, p. 406)—given erroneously in the Catalogue of the Moths of India as
occurring both in Singapore and India, has only as yet been recorded from Singapore ; so,
it does not enter into the geographical area under consideration in this paper.

Govt. of India Central Printing Office,—No. 222 R, & A,--21-9-91,—1,000,—F. J, B,

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