154 MEMOIR ON ANIMAL COTTON. 



ther. At one glance, the caflada-worm is feen covered 

 with all the little worms that have juft been hatched. 

 They iffue out of him at every pore, and that anifnated 

 robe covers him fo entirely, that nothing can be perceived 

 but the top of his head. He then turns to a dirty white, 

 the little worms appear black to the eye, but their true 

 colour is a deep brown. 



This operation lafts hardly more than an hour, and is 

 followed by another which is not much larger but which 

 is much more curious. 



As foon as the worms are hatched, and without quit- 

 ting the fpot where the egg is which they have broke 

 through, they yield a liquid gum, which by coming into 

 contad: with the air, becomes folid and flimy. 



At the fame time, and by a fimultaneous motion, they 

 raife themfelves on their lower extremity, fliake their 

 heads and one half of their bodies, and fwing themfelves 

 in every diredlion. Now is going to begin an operation 

 which will afford the greateft delight to the admirer of 

 nature. 



Each of thofe animalcidce works himfelf a fmall and al- 

 mofl: imperceptible cocoon in the Ihape of an egg, in 

 which he wraps himielf up. Thus, they make, as it 

 were, their winding Iheet. They feem to be born but 

 to die. 



'1 liofc millions and millions of cocoons, all clofe to each 

 other, and the formation of which has not taken two 

 hours, form a white robe in which the caffada-worm ap- 

 pears elegantly clothed. While they are thus decking 

 him, he remains in a flate of almoll; lethargic torpidity. 



As foon as this covering is woven, and the little work- 

 men who have made it have retired and hid them.felves 

 in their cells, the worm endeavours to rid himfelf cf 

 thofe barbarous gueils, and of the robe \\ hich contains 



them, 



