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.
{13}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.