18 COMPLETE INSTRUCTION IN 



Right in the center of the back, under the skin, 

 is to be seen a straight, thread-like organ, which 

 always pulsates regularly when the worm is in 

 a healthy condition. This seems to contain the 

 food in the first process of digestion. Below this 

 organ, on either side, and closer to the feet, are 

 nine small spots or holes surrounded by short 

 black hairs. These are the breathing apertures 

 of the worm, as it does not, like most insects and 

 animals, breathe through the nostrils or mouth. 



If the worm be examined with a powerful lens 

 when nearly ready to spin, it may be seen that 

 from these little holes small, black thread-like 

 organs ramify over the inside surface of the skin. 

 These may also be seen if the worm be dissected, 

 and the skin freed from its contents. These will 

 remain and be very clearly seen, radiating in all 

 directions from the center. The silkworm has 

 five senses; viz., hearing, seeing, smelling, tasting, 

 and feeling. Of these, the senses of smell and 

 taste are the keenest. However young a silk- 

 worm may be, it will at once crawl in the direc- 

 tion of a fresh mulberry leaf and begin to eat. 



to ta_ste or eat anything 



that will disagree with them, unless driven by 

 starvation. The silkworm* is a cold-blooded in- . 

 sect^ and so it is thai it always maintains the 

 temperature of the atmosphere in which it is 

 reared. 



