THE SILK-WORM.

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they eat voraciously. No sooner are the leaves laid onthe worms, than they presently appear on the top ofthem, so there is no trouble in shifting the leaves or theworms.

On the third day, the worms are divided into two baskets,then presently into four, and so on until the family producedin only one, occupy some hundred baskets.

I have often been struck by the very considerable noisemade by the worms’ jaws while eating the leaves, particu-larly when a fresh supply is given, which is usually atmorning, noon, and night. During the first weeks after thehatching, great care is taken against the cold, and all impurestagnant air. An unexpected easterly wind will often de-stroy the hopes of many a poor peasant, particularly of hiswife and daughters, who, perhaps, depend upon their littlecrop of silk for their supply of clothes, and holiday recreation.

Upon the silk-worms coming to maturity, they averageabout two inches in length, and the thickness of a first rategoose quill. They now begin to lose their appetites, and toappear uneasy, lifting up their heads, as though in search ofsomething new.

Their rearers then place upright in the baskets a quantityof twigs and branches of birch or elm, similar to pea-sticks. Up these sticks the worms ascend, and choosinga proper berth, begin to veil themselves, by the con-tinued exudation of a thread of silk from their mouths.When they have secured a good foundation amongst thetwigs, they then go on, always with the same thread, toenclose themselves in the coccone, and laying the thread onthe inside, so evenly, by turning their heads and their bodiesround in every' direction, that the coccone is of an equalthickness in every part.

The worms are allowed about ten days or more to finishtheir work, but care must be taken not to leave them too

VOL. x.

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