98 SILK 



disengaged from the gummy cement. By expert reeling, 

 they produce silk of the first quality. 



4. Dupions or Double Cocoons. These usually 

 amount to not more than a hundredth part of the whole. 

 These are reeled by skilful reelers, in water boiling 

 hot, and usually without difficulty. These being form- 

 ed by the united labors of two silk-worms, many of them 

 are so intertwined that they break frequently in reeling, 

 and sometimes they cannot be wound at all. The floss 

 must be carefully separated, also any loose silk which 

 may accumulate on the reel. The silk which these 

 afford is not so fine as that of the perfect cocoon, but it 

 serves to form sewing silk of the second quality. 



5. Soufflons. These are very imperfect cocoons, the 

 texture loose, even to a degree so great as to be trans- 

 parent. These can never be wound, but by a particu- 

 lar process they are converted intofleuret. 



6. Perforated Cocoons. These are the cocoons from 

 whence the miller has escaped and are never reeled. 

 Rev. Mr. Swayne was the first to discover that not a 

 filament is broken but rather entangled. He has prov- 

 ed that half of them may be reeled. Yet it is doubtful 

 whether it will ever be done to profit. 



7. Good Choqucttcs. These are unfinished cocoons, 

 or those in which the insect dies before the completion 

 of their labor. On being shaken, the chrysalide is not 

 heard to rattle, as it adheres to the side. The silk is as 

 fine as that of the first quality, but it is not so strong 

 nor so brilliant. They are liable to furze in winding, 

 and must therefore be wound separately. 



8. Bad Choquettes. These cocoons are defective or 

 spotted : the silk which they afford is foul or bad, of a 

 blackish color. 



9. Calcined Cocoons. These cocoons are so highly 

 esteemed, that in Piedmont they sell for half as much 

 again as other good cocoons ; but large parcels are rarely 

 to be obtained. In these, the silk-worm, after having 

 completed its labor, is seized with a peculiar disease, 

 and becomes either petrified or reduced to a white pow- 



