Leaders. 



55 



CHAPTER IV. 



LEADERS. 



THIS essential to the angler's outfit is composed of the 

 silk fluid secreted by the Chinese variety of the silk-worm. 

 When the worms cease feeding, and a filament of silk is 

 observed hanging from the mouth, they are then about 

 to begin to spin their cocoons, within which to await 

 and undergo their transformation into the perfect insect. 

 On observing this indication, such worms as are to be 

 devoted to this purpose are immersed in vinegar for 

 some hours. When sufficiently pickled they are re- 

 moved, seized by the head and tail, and forcibly torn 



Fig. IS. Anatomy of the Silk- worm : A A, the Silk Sacks, B B, the Intestines. 

 (From the " Encyclopaedia Britannica.") 



apart. Within are found the intestines, which then re- 

 semble boiled spinach, and two silk sacks. The latter 

 are nearly or quite twice the length of the worm, and 

 lie doubled together within it. The diameter of the 



