238 



THE INSECT WORLD. 



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Fig. 218.— Sheet of p;iper with rows of cocoons prepared for 

 the exit of the moths destined for laying eggs. 



having a northern aspect, which is never warmed. They remain 

 thus, exposed to all variations of temperatrure, till the return of the 



warm weather. We will 



F|i|[|«friPW!r|^^ ^^y ^ '^^^^' Tt^o an^end^ on 



the windmg of cocoons 

 and the spinning of silk. 

 The winding of co- 

 coons is an operation 

 which at first sight ap- 

 pears very simple, but 

 M'hich is in reality a diffi- 

 cult and delicate process. 

 It requires unremitting 



,^^_^_^^ attention, great experi- 



I , ence, and a delicacy of 



touch which can only be 

 found in the fingers of 

 woman, or rather, in the 

 fingers of certain women. 

 The woman who is spmning, stands before a sort of loom which 

 is called /our (Fig. 220). Under her hand is a copper containing 



water, which she heats to 

 the required degree by 

 opening the tap of a tube, 

 which brings a current of 

 steam. She plunges the 

 cocoons into the hot 

 water, and moves them 

 about in it, to soften the 

 gummy substance which 

 sticks the silken threads 

 of the cocoon together. 

 Then she beats them, 

 with a light hand, witli a 

 small birch-broom. The 

 threads of the cocoons 

 get caught in the ex- 

 tremities of the twigs of 

 which the little broom is made, and the workwoman seizes with her 

 fingers the bundle of threads, and shakes them about till she per- 

 ceives that thoy arc all single, and in a tit state to be joined togetlier. 



Fig. 219. — Sheets of paper stuck into screens, and incHned 

 for the reception of moths. 



