THE SILK WORM. 161 



light shines through them, and they appear of a whi- 

 tish yellow transparent color. 



" 3d. When numbers of the worms, which were 

 fastened to the inside of the edges of the wickers, 

 and straightened, now get upon the edges, and move 

 slowly along, instinct urging them to seek change of 

 place. 



" 4th. When numbers of worms leave the centre 

 of the wickers and try to reach the edges, and crawl 

 up upon them. 



" 5th. When their rings draw in, and their green- 

 ish white color changes to a deep golden hue. 



" 6th. When their skins become wrinkled about 

 the neck, and their bodies have more softness to the 

 touch than heretofore, and feel like soft dough. 



" 7th. When, in taking a worm in the hand and 

 looking through it, the whole body has assumed the 

 transparency of a ripe yellow plum. When these 

 signs appear in any of the worms, every thing 

 should be prepared for their rising, so that those 

 worms which are ready to rise may not lose their 

 strength and silk in seeking for the support they re- 

 quire." 



The above are the rules of European cultivators, 

 but I do not believe in the theory ; for however well 

 it may succeed in feeding worms on this plan in Eu- 

 rope, it cannot be observed in America. I have rais- 

 ed as large worms as were ever produced in Europe 



or America, some of them being from three inches 

 14* 



