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CHAPTER XV. 



ENTOMOLOGY CONTINUED. THE SILK-WORM. 



THE silk-worm is the larva or caterpillar of an 

 insect of a tribe of spinning moths, which has 

 been designated by naturalists by the term bom- 

 byX) a natural family containing some very re- 

 markable species, arid distinguished from other 

 tribes by possessing pectinated or comb-like an- 

 tenna?, and having their wings always incumbent 

 or depressed, while the insect is in a resting po- 

 sition. 



The moth of the silk worm belongs to the mul- 

 berry tree, arid was consequently called by natu- 

 ralists bombyx niori. The beech also, the oak, 

 the pine, the plumb tree, the poplar and many 

 other trees, have each their peculiar species of 

 this family. 



The caterpillars of the mulberry moth, com- 

 monly called silk worms (vzrs a soie) have a 

 lengthened, and more or less round body, which 

 is smooth in some, while in others it is covered 

 with hair or tubercles. Their jaws act as cutting 

 instruments, arid are used to divide the parenchy- 

 ma of leaves, and beneath the jaws, at the lower 

 part of the head is an opening which contains 



