Silkworms abound in our own country, as well as in others; but the silk they spin is too fragile and scanty to be employed for other purposes than their own. It is different with some of the caterpillars of India. Although the great supply of silk is there obtained, as with us, from the silkworm of the mulberry-tree, yet the caterpillars of various moths also furnish a considerable quantity. The most important of these are the _Tusseh_ and _Arindy_ silkworms, both natives of Bengal. The first feeds on the leaves of the jujube tree and of the asseen, and is found in such abundance as from time immemorial to have afforded a constant supply of coarse, dark-coloured silk, which is woven into a cheap but very durable cloth. [Illustration: THE TUSSEH SILKWORM. ] When the caterpillars approach their full size they are too heavy to crawl in search of their food with the back upwards, as is usual with most caterpillars, but traverse the small branches suspended by the feet, as is shown in the figure. [Illustration: COCOON OF THE TUSSEH SILKWORM. ] When the caterpillar is ready to spin its cocoon, it connects by means of the silk, (which is always glutinous when newly spun,) two or three new leaves into an outer envelope, which serves as a basis to spin the complete cocoon in, besides the cocoon being suspended from a branch of the tree in a wonderful manner, by a thick, strong, consolidated cord, spun of the same material by this persevering creature. The cocoon is of an exact oval shape, and very firm in texture: in it the animal remains dormant, and perfectly protected, for about nine months, namely from October until July; so that it makes its appearance in time for the caterpillars to come into existence, when Providence has furnished them with the greatest plenty of proper food. When the insect is prepared to make its escape and be changed into its perfect state, it discharges from its mouth a large quantity of liquid, with which the upper end of the case is so perfectly softened as to enable the moth to work its way out in a very short time; an operation which is always performed during the night. In their perfect state these insects do not exist many days: the female deposits her eggs in the branches of the tree she may be resting on, to which they adhere firmly by means of the gluten they are covered with when newly laid.