THE METAMORPHOSIS 107 



soon as it is out of the cocoon, it sets to work laying 

 eggs; then it dies. Silkworm eggs are commonly 

 called seed, a very good term, for the egg is the seed 

 of the animal as the seed is the egg of the plant. 

 Egg and seed correspond. They do not stifle all 

 tin* cocoons in the vapor to wind them afterwards; 

 they keep out a certain number so as to obtain but- 

 terflies and consequently eggs or seeds. These are 

 the seeds which, the following year, produce the 

 fresh brood of worms. 



"All insects that are metamorphosed pass through 

 the four states that I have just told you about: egg, 

 larva, chrysalis or nymph, perfect insect. The per- 

 fect insect lays its eggs, and the series of transfor- 

 mations begins again." 



