26 ORIENTAL ENTOMOLOGY.
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FIGURE 4.
B O M B Y X HUTTONI. WESTW.
Bombyx alls anticis faleatis griseo-albidis strigis nonnullis ante et pone medium obscimoribns alteraque submarginali
paUidiori plaga magna apicali nigricantej alis posticis fiiscis venis pallidioribiis strigai^ue curvata siibmarginali
albida, margine anali albo oblique strigato.
Bombyx witli the fore wings falcated of a greyish-buff colour with two or three very indistinct darker strigie
before the middle, and two straigliter beyond the middle, followed by a submaa'ginal paler space which is contracted
into a striga towards the tip by a large blackish apical patch ; the hind wings are chocolate-brown with paler veins
and with a whitish cm-ved submarginal striga. The anal margin obUquely sti-eaked with white, and jvith a tuft of
dark scales at the anal angle.
Expansion of the fore wings, 2i inches. Inhabits Mussooree. (Capt Hutton). In my Collection.
O B S E K V A T I O U S . — I have named tHs species in lionoiu' of Captain Thomas Hutton, by whom it was
lately discoTerecl, and to whom I am iadebted for a specimen, accompanied by the following interesting
observations on its habits:—
" I have the j)leasure of sending yon a species of Bombyx, which 1 think will prove new. It is an
inhabitant of these hills (IMussooree), and the caterpillar, like that of B. Älori, feeds on the leaves of
the wild mulberry which grows here in oiu-forests. Unlike the lai-va ofB. Mori, however, the present
species has the caterpillai- covered with long spines, although in coloining and shape there is great
similarity between the two. The cocoon is spun in the leaf which is di'awn round it, and the silk is
very fine, and of a very pale yellow tint. I have inclosed an empty cocoon, in order that you may if
you please give me yom- opinion, and that of those interested in such thiags, as to whether it might not
be tiu-ned to good account, as I think I coiüd succeed in growing it here if the silk is approved of. I
discovered this species on the 7th of May, 1843, on some mulberry trees growing at an elevation of
about 6500 feet above the sea, with a southern aspect. Some of the caterpillars were of lai-ge size, and
nearly full groTO at this time, whilst others were in all the intermediate stages of growth. The
caterpillar is of a pale yellowish cream-coloui', mottled or marbled down the back and sides with a
mixture of grey, yellow and rufous or brownish lines; the anterior segments of the body are mottled
above with li^dd gi-ey and ornamented with fom- blackish oblong spots or ocelli placed obliquely; along
the back axe two rows of long black spines curving backwards, and on the anal segment is one long
spine in the middle ; the two anterior pair of spines spring from the ocelli, and the last pair are curved
forwai'ds instead of backwards Eke the rest; there is also on each side a row of short s^jines springing
from the base of the true legs. The anterior segments swell up into a hump hke those of the larva of
B. Mori. As the caterpillai- becomes mature, the rufous colouring fades away and gives place to a
motthng of pale livid grey; the head is also mottled. It grows to about inches in length, and spins
in the leaf early in May. They are double brooded, for mine all hatched in June, and deposited their
ova, a few of which produced caterpillars that year, but the greater number remained until the
following spring."
I can but congratulate Captain Hutton on the discovery of another species of silk moth which seems
Hkely to become decidedly worthy of cultivation. The flossy external portion of the cocoon sent, is
very fine and tough, but of a much less silky feel than that of the B. Mori. The injury caused by the
escape of the moth prevented me from unwinding the cocoon sent by Captain Hutton. It would be
very interesting to know whether B. Huttoni would bear transplanting like the common species.
The investigation of the merits of the silk cannot, however, be in better hands, as Captani Hutton has
already pubHshed a valuable little work, entitled, " Eemarks on the Culture of Silk at Candahar."
8vo. Swansea, 1843.
Eranthemum montanum, an acanthaceous Indian plant, accompanies the figures of the moths.
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