Page:Jardine Naturalist's Library Exotic Moths.djvu/191

Rh which the male insects fly are very astonishing. I have put, at different times and occasions, innumerable questions to them on this subject, and they assure me that it is no uncommon practice amongst them to catch some of the male moths and put a mark on their wings previous to letting them fly, the marks of different districts being known. I am told that it has been thus ascertained that male moths have come from a distance equal to a hundred miles and upwards: I of course cannot vouch for the truth of this, but have no hesitation in declaring that I believe it. The Jarroo worm is guarded on the trees in like manner as the Bughy; this I have had opportunities of seeing on the hills westward of me: the cocoons are darker coloured than the Bughy species, and are wound off as described above. The accompanying skein I had reeled off at my elbow this morning; it consists of five Jarroo cocoons at first, of four when one cocoon was finished, and of three when two cocoons were ended; I then stopped the reel; the three that remained of course gave a filament the entire length of the skein." The Tussey silk is extremely well adapted for general wear in warm climates, as it makes a dress a once cheap, light, cool, and durable.