78
8,34G-7. Larva? of the Arindi moth, and of the com
mon silk moth (Bombyx mori). From Bogra.
8,348-9. Eggs, moth and cocoons of Atticus ricini
from Bogra and Rungpore.
This moth, which feeds on the castor oil plant, is
locally named “ Indi ” or “ Arindi,” is peculiar to the
districts of Rungpore, Dinagepore, and Bogra, and
to Assam.
8,350-54. Tusser cocoons (Anthersea paphia), from
Beerbhoom, Bhaugulpore, Midnapore, Klmrda in
Orissa, and Nya Doomka, Sonthal Pergunnahs.
Tusser is generally Antheriea paphia, but several
species are perhaps joined under the same name.
The worm feeds on the “ber,” the “Sal,” the
“ Simal,” and the vaious species of Terminalia. In
Midnapore the worms are placed on the “ Asun ”
tree, after being bred in the house. All the inhabi-
tants of the jungles rear the worm. The silk manu-
factured sells for 10 rupees to 13 rupees the seer (2 lb.).
The eggs are collected, and the larvse let loose on the
trees (“Asun," “Sal,” and “Asta,” of the jungle
tracts), from which the cocoons are afterwards col
lected. The lowest castes form the right to collect
from the Zemindars, and seil the cocoons to winders
and weavers.
8,355-/. Cocoons of Bombyx motlis from Rajshahye,
Midnapore, and Berhampore.
The ordinary silk moth reared in Bengal is
generally identified with Bombyx Mori, but B. Mori
occurs nowhere in the lowland Gangetic provinces,
and its name is assigned to 'all the under-men-
tioned species of Bombyx (textor, Crcesi, fortunatus,
Sinensis, Arracanensis, Bengalensis, &c.).
8,358-60. Cocoons of Tusser moth of the varieties
called “ Ampathi,” or “ Ampatia fuki,” “ Dava,”
and “ Baghai,” from Purulia, Maunbhoom.
These names refer to the colour of the worms.
Ampathi, “mango leaf;” Dava, “white” (from
Dhavala); Baghai, “ tiger-like,” i.e., striped.
8,361-2. Arindi Cocoons from Rungpore and Kis-
horegange, Mymensing district.
8,363-71. Specimens of the cocoons of the Moonga,
Eria, and Barpat worms, with and without Chry-
salis, from Nowgong, Upper Assam.
The “ Mooga ” or “ Moonga ” worm of Assam
(Anthersea Assama) reared on a species of Laurus,
produces a good quality of silk, to which, however,
the carding process used by the natives does not do
justice. 1t is of opinion that if it were well reeled
by skilful hands, the silk would be excellent and
extremely valuable. The “ Pat ” is a Bombyx worm
(B. textor). The silk, the use of which was at one
time confined to royalty, is very highly thought of.
The “ Eria ” worm (Attacus ricini) yields the coarse
silk, from which the dresses of the poorer classes are
made. The “ Pat ” worms are said to be bred by
the Joogee dass; the Moonga and Eria by low
caste Hindoos, Mikirs, and Cacharees.
F. Moore, India Museum, London.
A case containing the principal silk producers of
India,
1. Bombyx Mori. Moths. Cocoons and Silk. Cash-
mere.
2. Bombyx Mori (Hybrid or cross between Cashmere
and Bengal Nistry). Cocoons. Bengal.
3. Bombyx Mori (Hybrid, or cross between Bengal
and French). Cocoons. Bengal.
This is the largest of the mulberry-feeding silk-
| worms. It came originally from China. Cultivated
| in one or two localities of the Northern Punjab near
the hills, it thrives well at Mussooree, and is the
species reared in Cashmere, Afghanistan, and Bok-
hara, It is an annual, and produces the best silk
of all. Cocoon golden yellow (when in health.)
4. Bombyx Crasi. (The Nistry or Madrassee of
Bengal.) Cocoons, &c. Bengal. This is the
largest of the multivoltine species, and is culti
vated in several parts of India. Cocoon, golden
yellow. Silk good.
5. Bombyx textor (the Burra pooloo of Bengal).
Cocoons, &c. Tinnevelley.
Originally from China. Cultivated sparingly in
several parts of India,but its Constitution is thoroughly
worn out, and it is fast fading away from Bengal.
An annual Cocoon, white (in health, yellow).
6. Bombyx fortunatus (the Dasee of Bengal). Moths,
cocoons, and silk. Bengal.
Distributed over Bengal and parts of Southern
India. A polyvoltine. Cocoon, small, golden
yellow. Silk good.
7. Bombyx Sinensis (the Sina or small Chinese of
Bengal).
Originally from China. Cultivated in parts of
Bengal. A multivoltine. Cocoons varying in colour,
being sometimes yellow, white, or with a faint
greenish hue.
8. Bombyx (Theophila) Huttoni (the wild mountain
silkworm). Worm, cocoons, and moth. N. W.
Himalaya.
Feeds upon the indigenous mulberry of the N. W.
Himalaya (Simla, Mussooree, and Almorah). Dis-
covered and experimented upon by Captain Hutton.
An annual. Cocoon, whitish. Silk, strong and
soft.
9. Antheraa papha (Tusser silkworm). Worm,
cocoons, and moths.
The Tusser silkworm is the most important and
widely distributed of all the wild silk-producing
insects of India, being found in the sub-Himalayan
tracts almost throughout the entire ränge; on the
hills from Assam to Chittagong, in the Soonderbuns,
everywhere in the great beit of hill and forest in-
habited by the Sontal, the Kol, the Khond, and the
Gond, on the Western Ghauts, and in portions of
the Madras and Bombay Presidencies.
The worm is multivoltine, and feeds variously on
the Ber (Zizyphus jujuba), country almond (Ter
minalia catappa), Asun (T. Alata), Saj (T. tomen-
tosa), Seemul (Bombax heptaphyllum), Sal (Shorea
robusta), and other trees.
Its utilization appears to date centuries back. In
some districts the worms are regularly reared and
tended, in others the cocoons are simply col
lected from the forest trees on which they are found,
sorted, and sold to the dealers.
The method of reeling is primitive in the extreme
and to its imperfections is attributed the scant
attention this valuable and beautiful silk has hitherto
received.
10. Antheraa Assama (Moonga silkworm). Worms,
cocoons, moths. Assam.
The Moonga silkworm, the cultivation of which is
confined to Assam, ranks next in importance to the
Tusser worm. Five broods are produced annually,
the worms being carefully reared upon either of the
following trees:—Champa (Michelia sp.); Maizan-