MEMOIR ON ANIMAL COTTON. ijt 



Its Birth^ Growth, and Death. 



The caflada worm is produced like the Clk worm, 

 that is to fay, from the eggs which the mother fcatters 

 every where, after Ihe has undergone her metamorphofis 

 into a whitifh butterfly, or of a light pearl colour. 



The egg is hatched about the latter end of July. Its 

 developement is quick, for in September the worm is 

 changed into a butterfly. 



This month of September is the feafon of his loves. 

 The conftant motion of his wings fliews the ardency of 

 his pafllon which he indulges day and night and even 

 while feeding. The excefs of this indulgence foon de- 

 ftroys him, he dies in the fame month after violent con- 

 vulfions. 



1 have faid that his life begins at the end of July. He 

 is decked at his birth with a robe of the moft brilliant 

 variegated colours. This elegant livery, which nature 

 fecms to have delighted in forming, renders him always 

 agreeable to the eye, which always dwells upon it with 

 pleafure. 



Its Afinitics. 



It has appeared to me to be a fmooth caterpillar whofe 

 external Ihape is exactly like that of the filk worm. 



it differs however from it, by its fize, by its thicknefs, 

 and by the beauty of its colours. 



It again differs from the filk worm, becaufe it does 

 not itfelf v.'ork the cone which I am going to fpeak of. 



I leave it to the learned to delineate its external confi- 

 guration, and to determine upon the family of infects to 

 which it belongs. I lliall only fay that I do not believe 

 it has, like the lilk-worm, an intelline going in a dire£l 



X 2 line 



