O F S I L K. 67- 



dotli, in the fpace of about fix weeks, grow- 

 to be above two inches and an half long, 

 and an inch and half round, after v/hich 

 it defifts from feeding, and begins to form 

 its filk-ball. 



It begins the outfide of its work firfl:, 

 and keeping ftill in the infide, forms an 

 hollow ball of filk round itfelf, which it 

 generally finilhes in three or four days 

 from the time of its beginning to fpin. 



It lies inclofed in this ball a certain fpace 

 of time, in hot cH mates fifteen days, in 

 cold ones a month, and fo proportionably, 

 at the end of which it is transform'd into 

 a very large moth, and works it way out 

 by an hole which it makes through the ball. 



The male and female moths then cou- 

 ple, and when they are feparatcd, the fe- 

 male lays her eggs to the number 6f three 

 or four hundred, and in a few days after-* 

 ward both males and females die. 



Their eggs are kept fafe till the enfuing 

 fpring, at which feafon they are again 

 hatch'd into wormSi This is the general 

 fketch of a filkworm's life when it is pre- 

 ferved to breed ; for millions of filk-balls are 

 wound off to manufacture before die moths 

 fpoil them by boreing their way out. 



y 2 While 



