126 NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



Silk manufactured from their bags. 



1 _ . .. 



was in some measure restored. The day follow- 

 ing, the new comer, deprived of all its means 

 of defence, fell a complete sacrifice. It was 

 speedily devoured; and in less than twenty-four 

 hours the old inhabitant of the bell became as 

 plump as it was at the first moment of its con- 

 finement. 



The females lay six or seven hundred eggs in 

 bags, which they make on purpose, lined within 

 side by a down which they pluck from their own 

 breast. These bags, when completed, are thick 

 as paper, smooth within side, but rougher with- 

 out. The eggs are generally deposited in August 

 or September, and about sixteen days afterward 

 the young are hatched. If the weather continue 

 cold, the young remain in their nidus for several 

 months without eating or increasing in bulk ; 

 but make their appearance abroad on the com- 

 mencement of the warm weather. The old 

 ones live but a short time after the eggs are 

 laid. 



From these bags an attempt has been made to 

 manufacture a kind of silk, which has in some 

 degree proved successful. With some trouble 

 thirteen ounces of these bags were collected. 

 They were beaten for some time with a stick to 

 free them from dust, and then washed in warm 

 water till they were perfectly clean. After this 

 they were steeped in a pot with soap, nitre, and 

 gum arabic, and then boiled in the same mixture 

 over a gentle fire for two or three hours. Clean 



