230 



CLOTHING AND ITS USES 



leaves which are the food of the little rapidly growing 

 caterpillars. They shed their coats as they become 

 larger, but after a time they become quiet, shrink a little 

 in size, and spin a wonderful covering of silk. The silk is 

 made within the body of the caterpillar, and is given out 



Sorting the cocoons of the silkworm, in Japan. 



from just below the mouth, in the form of a jelly-like 

 material. This hardens rapidly into a yellow or whitish 

 thread. The process of weaving a cocoon takes from two 

 to three days. The cocoons are gathered, and after plac- 

 ing in hot water, the silk is reeled off, very largely by 

 hand. It takes between two and three thousand cocoons 

 to make a pound of silk. Most of the labor is done by 



