THE SILK-WORM. 23 



in the centre of the cell, and in the interior of this it con- 

 tinues to work for five days. If the cells containing the 

 spinning silk-worms are placed regularly on the line, in the 

 order in which they begin to spin, then there will occur 

 no difficulty in taking them off in the succession in which 

 they stand, as the first in order on the line will be the first 

 requiring to be wound off. After a silk-worm has been ten 

 days in the cell, its cocoon of yellow silk will be compact 

 and complete ; this must be taken out of the cell and the 

 exterior or waste silk stripped off, until a single thread 

 runs by itself; an operation which will be much assisted by 

 allowing the cocoon to float on warm water. When so 

 much of the silk has been wound off, that the remainder 

 appears of a thinner, paler and inferior quality, the thread 

 should be broken, the remaining portion of the cocoon be- 

 ing weak, gummy, and of little value ; this should be taken 

 out of the water and laid aside, to prevent its getting en- 

 tangled with the others. 



Within the cocoon is the chrysalis, from which the future 

 moth is produced; these may be thrown on a tray containing 

 bran, which will absorb the moisture that would otherwise 

 remain on them after their long soaking. When silk-worms 

 are reared for profit, there is a far greater number of chry- 

 salides than are wanted; these may be given to fowls, which 

 are exceedingly fond of them, and to which they afford a 

 wholesome and nutritious diet. In a fortnight or three 

 weeks after the winding of the silk, some of the chrysalides 

 will be found cracking and opening, and the perfect moths 

 will then appear : these are small sluggish creatures, of a 

 pale buff colour, seldom leaving the tray, mat or paper on 

 which they are placed, and where the females lay their eggs. 



As regards the hatching of the eggs, it is important to 

 know that this may be retarded as long as the owner pleases, 

 by subjection to a low temperature ; and it will be well for 



