EXPLANATION OF THE PLATE. 



1. The egg, or the development and birth of the caterpillar. 



2. The silk worms during the first age, till their first moulting. 



3. Rearing of the worms in the second age. 



4. The worms in their third age. 



5. The rearing of the silk worm in the fourth age. 



6. Of the rearing of the silk worms during the fifth age, until the completion of the cocoon. 



7. A species of silk worm, of a dark grey colour, with singular marks. 



8. The cocoons. 



9. Two open cocoons, or cocoons with their grubs. The upper one contains only the shell of a 



developed chrysalis; but in the lower is seen the immature chrysalis, with the skin of the late 

 moth. 



10. A cocoon from which the butterfly is near emerging. 



11. A cocoon from which the butterfly has already escaped. 



12. Two butterflies in the act of coupling. 



13. The female moths laying eggs. 



14. Raw silk of a yellow or white colour. 



15. Represents the excremental substance of the silk worm, in its first and last age. 



