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Of such species as Attacus pyri, of Central Europe, and Attacus pernyi, the North Chinese oak silkworm, which I have mentioned in my previous reports, and bred every season for several years, I shall only say that I never could rear Pyri in the open air in London, up to the formation of the cocoon.
The last female moth emerged, I think, about the end of September. These cocoons had hibernated twice, as has been the case with other Indian species. I had Indian cocoons which hibernated even three times. Attacus cynthia, from the province of Kumaon. With the Atlas cocoons, a large quantity of Cynthia cocoons were collected in the province of Kumaon.
The antennae were shaped as all of the Attacus group, but larger in proportion to size, for my biggest Promethea measured only four and a quarter from tip to tip, and for his inches carried larger antlers than any Cecropia I ever saw of this measurement, those of the male being very much larger than the female.
Blot out the silk worm, and we should remove one of the most important sources of national wealth, the annual revenue from the silk trade of the world amounting to $254,500,000. Trouvelot, be made a source of profit. This is a splendid member of the group of which the gigantic Attacus Atlas of China is a type.
Geoghegan's work, in which are given the names of all the Indian silkworms known by him up to the year 1871. Of Attacus atlas, Captain Hutton says: "It is common at 5,500 feet at Mussoorie, and in the Dehra Doon; it is also found in some of the deep warm glens of the outer hills.
The front wings from the base extending over half the surface were a dark brownish black, outlined with a narrow escalloped line of clay colour of light shade. The black colour from here lightened as it neared the margin. At the apex it changed to a reddish brown tinge that surrounded the typical eye-spot of all the Attacus group for almost three-fourths of its circumference.
I stopped while he advanced, trembling lest the specimen might escape him. With what eagerness he closed the net over it! and I felt almost as rejoiced as he seemed to be that he had captured the treasure. He told us that it was called the "Attacus luna," and that it was the most beautiful moth in Florida. The caterpillar produces silk, though it is not equal to that of the better known silkworm.
Larva, with tubercles on back and sides, blue, or violet-blue. First cocoon commenced on the 10th of August. Want of time prevented me from taking fuller and more accurate notes. Attacus Atlas.
As far as I am informed by correspondents in Ceylon, this species is not found or is seldom found on the coasts, but Attacus atlas and Mylitta are commonly found there.
The sparrows, as usual, also destroyed a quantity of worms, in spite of wire or fish-netting placed over some of the trees. For the first time I reared Actias selene, from India, on a nut-tree in the garden, and Attacus atlas, on the ailantus. The Selene larvae reached their fifth and last stage.
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