Order: Lepidoptera. Section: Nocturna. Family: Bombycidæ, Steph.
Genus. Saturnia, Schrank. Attacus, Germar. Bombyx p. Fabr.
Saturnia Cynthia. Alis falcatis luteo-fuscis, fasciâ communi albidâ strigâ basali lunulâque discoidali; anticis ocello parvo apicali. (Expans. Alar. 5 unc. 3 lin.)
Syn. Phalæna (Attacus) Cynthia, Drury, App. vol. 2. Oliv. Enc. Méth. 5. 30. 26.
Habitat: China.
Upper Side. Head greyish brown. Antennæ strongly pectinated. Thorax and abdomen greyish. Anterior wings with a bar rising near the middle of the anterior margin, continued along the posterior wings parallel with the external edges, and ending near the abdominal corners; the inner part forming an equilateral triangle. The outer part of this triangle is ash colour, the inner part pale brownish grey, but darker than the rest of the wings. The tips of the superior wings are adorned with a small eye, the lower part of which is black, and the upper part white; from whence a faint white serpentine line runs to the very extremity of the wing. The spaces between the ash colour mentioned above, and the external edges of all the wings, are filled up with light brownish grey, appearing as if powdered thinly with black dust. A small narrow black line runs along the external edges of all the wings, which, beginning at the abdominal corners and ending at the tips, appears as if broken or interrupted just below the eyes. A narrow ash-coloured bar begins on the posterior edges next the shoulders of the superior wings, which, running towards the tips, suddenly turns off, and ends on the anterior edges about half an inch from the shoulders. On the middle of the posterior wings is an ash-coloured crescent, verged at top with black; and about a quarter of an inch above this is another crescent, larger and much fainter, running from the anterior to the abdominal edge, and ending at the extremity of the body.
Under Side. All the parts on this side are nearly of the same colour as on the upper, but not quite so distinct and bright. The angular bar on the anterior wings next the shoulders, and the faint crescent on the posterior, not being discernible. The margins of all the wings are entire; the superior ones being hooked at their tips.
From Dr. Roxburgh's interesting memoir upon the silk-producing moths of the East Indies,[[1]] it appears that this species is named the Arundi or Arrindy silk-worm, the caterpillars feeding upon the Arrindi, Ricinus, or Palma Christi. It is capable of being reared in the same way as the common silk-worm, the eggs are hatched in about ten or fifteen days; in about a month the caterpillars attain their full size, during which period they cast their skins three or four times. The caterpillar is from two and a half to three inches in length, each segment being furnished with several small soft conical tubercles, the prevailing colour being pale green. In this state they are very voracious, devouring daily many times their own weight of food. The cocoons are white or yellowish, of a very soft and delicate texture; in general about two or three inches in length, and three in circumference, and pointed at both ends. In this cocoon the chrysalis remains from ten to twenty days, the moth appearing at one end, the period of its final state not extending beyond from four to eight days. The moths are quiet, seldom attempting to fly from the apartment in which they are reared. The silk is so exceedingly delicate and flossy, that it is impracticable to wind it off; it is, therefore, spun like cotton, and the thread thus manufactured is woven into a coarse kind of white cloth, of a loose texture, but of surprising durability, the life of one person seldom being sufficient to wear out a garment made from it, the same piece descending from mother to daughter. It is used not only for clothing, but also for packing light clothes, &c. Some manufacturers in England to whom it was shewn seemed to think that it could be made here into shawls equal to any received from India.
DEIOPEIA ASTREA.
Plate [VI]. fig. 3.