136 



CHINESE MODE OF REARING SIL] 

 WORMS. 



HAVING given an account of the East Indiai 

 silkworms, we again revert to the more interestim 

 and valuable species, the Common Silkworm, ( 

 Phalcena Mori, described in our second volume. 



In the districts of the Chinese empire most con. 

 genial to the habits of silkworms, they remair 

 quite free, feeding at will upon the leaves of th( 

 mulberry-trees, and undergoing their various meta- 

 morphoses without the aid of man. They are lefli 

 quite unmolested until the cocoons are formed, 

 when they are immediately appropriated by man 

 most of the Aurelia within them are destroyed,! 

 and the silk wound off them. 



It has, however, been found, that silk made in 

 this natural condition is not equal in quality and 

 fineness to that produced by the worms which 

 are sheltered and protected by the fostering hand 

 of man. The Chinese have reached high perfec- 

 tion in the rearing and tendence of silkworms.' 

 One of the greatest difficulties with which they 

 have to contend, is preventing the premature exclu- 

 sion of the caterpillar from the eggs, to which they 



