43 



TENANTS OF AN OLD FARM. 



cocoon is spun is continu- 

 ous, and easily unwound 

 like that of the ordinary 

 silk moth, Bomhyx mori. It 

 has a rich gloss, and high 

 hopes have been entertained 

 that it could find extensive 

 use in commerce. A New 

 England gentleman suc- 

 ceeded in rearing the in- 

 sects in large numbers, so 

 as to obtain wagon loads of 

 cocoons. His ' plant ' pre- 

 sented a truly animated ap- 

 pearance, with not less than 

 a million worms feeding in 

 the open air on bushes cov- 

 ered with a net." 



"A sight more attractive to the entomologist, or 

 silk-grower, I should think, than to the general public," 

 remarked Abbj-, 



" Very likely, but I have observed that a dollar dis- 

 cerned in the distance has a wonderful efllect in bright- 

 ening even a vista of caterpillars. Prospect of cash 

 converts unreasonable sensibilities quite as quickly as a 

 naturalist's enthusiasm. However, the general public 

 has a deep interest in everything relating to silk culture, 

 for although it may l)e a ' disgusting ' fact to some 

 minds, yet it is a fact that we owe our most beautiful 

 habiliments to the labor, pains, and eventually the 



FIG 13 C. — COCOON OF POLY- 

 PHEMUS MOTH. 



