492 Dr. Wallace on the Ouk-feeding 
water in the first trough; two openings are now made in each 
mat, immediately over the holes of the trough cover. Several 
branches of oak are now passed into it, and to one of them is attached 
the tray of eggs, containing generally 33 centilitres; any kind of 
lacquered wood may serve for the tray of eggs, but the bottom must 
be finely pierced with holes, to allow the rain to escape. When the 
worms are born, they climb up from the tray on to the branches ; 
when there are about 500 on the foliage, branches are placed in 
another trough, and the tray of eggs attached ; and in this way the 
worms are apportioned out to the different troughs. Care must 
be taken to plug well the holes of the troughs, lest the worms get to 
the water. When the worms have been three days on a branch 
itis taken away with the worms, and placed on the mat to prevent 
contact with the earth or sand. A fresh branch is now placed 
in contact with the old one, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. ; 6 hours is given 
to the worms to leave the stale and go to the fresh food ; those that 
remain after that are cut off with scissars and suspended on the fresh 
leaves, taking care to spread them out and to give them as much 
room as possible. As they are very small up to the first change, 
great care is requisite; in the first stage they are called kengo, 
or little hairy ones. Three people are required to fifteen troughs ; 
but the same care afterwards suffices for 300 troughs. The water 
requires to be renewed every other day. Never touch the worm 
with the finger; even its own little hairs, which are lost during the 
first moult, may kill the worm, if they come in contact. As the 
worms grow, the number of troughs required increases. At first 
500 are allowed to a trough, but after the last moult only fifty to 
each. Ten days after birth the worm ceases eating, and rests for 
three days for its first moult; as in the common silkworm, this 
happens four times, and after sixty days, more or less according to 
temperature, they commence their cocoons. If heavy rains hap- 
pen before the end of the second moult it is advantageous to sus- 
pend mats over them; but after that no covering is needed, 
however much it rains. A little rain is of benefit. In dry weather 
it is good to water them three times from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. witha 
watering-pot having a fine rose so as to refresh the branches. In the 
open air a hollow bamboo, having little holes, is used instead. The 
enclosure and covering of mats is intended to keep away birds, 
wasps, and other injurious insects ; but they are from time to time 
removed to allow of ventilation. After the third moult it is well 
to take away the mats by day, till 7 p.m. ; but if it rains they are 
