The Silkworm. 589 



THE SILKWORM. (Bombyx mori.) 



WITHOUT entering into a very minute description of this 

 Caterpillar, we shall confine ourselves to what we think 

 will be at once more interesting and more useful. As 

 the Silkworm is an insect of universal service, and not of 

 singular "beauty, we are induced to prefer giving an ac- 

 count of its utility, rather than any elaborate description 

 of its figure or colour. 



This larva feeds on the leaves of the mulberry tree, 

 and when first produced is extremely small, and entirely 

 black. In a few days it appears in a new habit, which 

 is white, tinged with the colour of its food ; and before 

 it goes into its chrysalis state it changes its skin several 

 times. When full grown it spins its cone of silk, which 

 is its cocoon, in the same manner as other insects. The 

 Moth possesses no beauty. The Silkworm is a native of 

 China, whence the greater part of our silk is still imported ; 

 but the insect was introduced into the south of Europe 

 during the reign of the Emperor Justinian, and is now 

 reared in large quantities both in France and Italy. 



The art of manufacturing silk was known to the an- 

 cients. We are informed that, in the third century, the 

 wife of the Roman emperor Aurelian entreated him to 

 give her a robe of purple silk, which he refused on 

 account of its enormous price. 



It is not certain at what precise period the manufac- 

 ture of silk was first introduced into England ; but in 



