THE SILK-WORM. 85 



The insect never proceeds from the egg till 

 nature has provided it a sufficient supply, and till 

 the budding leaves are furnished in a sufficient 

 abundance for its support. When the leaves are 

 put forth, the worms seem to feel the genial sum- 

 mons, and bursting from their little eggs, crawl 

 upon the leaves, where they feed with a most 

 voracious appetite. Thus they become larger by 

 degrees ; and after some months' feeding, they 

 lay upon every leaf small bundles or cones of silk, 

 which appear like so many golden apples painted 

 on a fine green ground. Such is the method of 

 breeding them in the East j and without doubt 

 it is best for the worms, and least troublesome 

 for the feeder of them. But it is otherwise in our 

 colder European climates : the frequent changes 

 of the weather, and the heavy dews of our even- 

 ings, render the keeping them all night exposed 

 subject to so many inconveniencies as to admit 

 of no remedy. It is true, that by the assistance 

 of nets they may be preserved from the insults of 

 birds; but the severe cold weather which often 

 succeeds the first heats of summer, as well as the 

 rain and high winds, will destroy them all ; and 

 therefore, to breed them in Europe, they must be 

 sheltered and protected from every external in- 

 jury- 



For this purpose a room is chosen with a south 

 aspect, and the windows are so well glazed as not 

 to admit the least air ; the walls are well built, 

 and the planks of the floor exceedingly close, so 

 as to admit neither birds nor mice, nor even so 

 much as an insect. In the middle there should 



