REARING SILKWORMS. 43 



should be written the color of the cocoon from 

 which the millers came, the day of the month, 

 and the year. It is well, also, to put strips of 

 paper round the sides of the boxes, as the millers 

 at times lay on the sides of the boxes. Cover the 

 boxes and lay them aside in a quiet, dark room 

 for forty-eight hours. Then the millers may be 

 thrown away, if not wanted to be preserved for 

 fancy-work or demonstration when preserved and 

 mounted. 



When the business is carried on on a large 

 scale, instead of boxes a room is so arranged by 

 dividing it into compartments having partitions 

 six or eight inches high, running the entire length 

 of the room. These aisles should be about 

 twenty-eight inches wide, with an aisle about 

 twelve inches between. This is to allow the 

 attendant to care for the millers. 



When the millers are separated and placed in 

 boxes or aisles to lay, each miller should be 

 allowed the square of itself, so that there be no 

 crowding. If at the appointed time the millers 

 have not all separated, take hold of the female 

 miller by both wings with the left hand, and the 

 male with the right hand, and with the third 

 finger press lightly on the abdomen of the male. 

 This act will make it loosen its hold. Many 

 millers lay their eggs in a few hours after being 



