38 INSECT MANUFACTURES. 



that the animal cannot entirely cast its skin, a 

 portion of it breaking and remaining attached 

 to the extremity of the body. As the animal 

 increases rapidly in size, this portion of the old 

 skin compresses its body tightly, causing inflam- 

 mation and much suffering, which usually ends in 

 death. 



Worms that have newly moulted are readily 

 distinguished by their pale colour, and the wrin- 

 kled appearance of the new skin. Soon after 

 moulting they recover health and vigour, and feed 

 with increased appetite. To keep them in health 

 they must be fed with great regularity, and not 

 crowded together in their trays. In the course 

 of five days the rapid growth of the insect causes 

 the wrinkles to disappear from the skin ; it is now 

 half an inch in length ; a second sickness, and a 

 second moulting, prepare it for increase of growth; 

 it casts its skin as before, and feeds without inter- 

 mission during another five days, during which 

 time it attains a length of three quarters of an 

 inch. It then falls sick and moults a third time. 



