INSECTS LEPIDOPTERA DIAGRAM 6. 121 



should be mentioned first among the Lepidoptera. It is largely 

 reared on the Continent, but is only reared as a curiosity in 

 England. Its life is composed of seven stages, five passed in the 

 larva state, and the two last as pupa and imago. The five first 

 stages occupy twenty-four days, and the two last require sixteen 

 days. It is only after forty days that the egg, when hatched, 

 produces a moth which lays eggs again, after which it dies. 

 Great numbers of silkworms are reared in the south of France, in 

 establishments provided for the purpose. 



When they observe that the eggs are about to hatch, they lay 

 mulberry leaves near them. The little worms, just out of the 

 egg, and quite black, crawl upon them and begin to eat. They 

 are placed on large trays, and are watched and tended with the 

 greatest care. 



Each stage ends with a moult. This is preceded by a day's 

 sickness, during which the worm raises its head, and neither eats 

 nor moves. When it has shed its skin, it still remains a con- 

 siderable time without eating. On the other hand, its appetite is 

 insatiable between the moults. 



The first stage lasts four days, and during this period it is 

 necessary to cut the leaves fine which are given to the silkworms, 

 because they only eat them at the edges ; but this precaution is 

 unnecessary afterwards. The fifth stage is longest, and that in 

 which the appetite of the worm is at first most voracious ; but it 

 soon ceases to eat ; it seems to become more transparent ; it tries 

 to climb, and spins ends of silk here and there ; this is called its 

 time of change. Then they lay small branches of birch or broom 

 on the trays,' on which the worms can easily spin their cocoons. 

 When only a few silkworms are reared, it is enough to put them 

 in screws of paper, which seems to suit them very well. 



The worm takes three days to spin its cocoon, after which it 

 becomes transformed into a chrysalis. The silk issues from 

 small openings placed near the mouth. The worm fastens its 

 thread to some object, then draws back its head, the thread 

 winds off, and it attaches it somewhere else. The whole cocoon 



