46 



INSECT MANUFACTURES. 



cultivator then takes the cocoons out of the paper 

 cones and separates the outer floss silk. He 

 then throws several cocoons into a glass of water 

 slightly warm, to make them more easy to unwind, 

 and having found the ends, proceeds to wind the 

 silk on a reel, or he gives the task to a sister's 



gentler hands, while 

 he prepares a little 

 box of bran, in rea- 

 diness to put the 

 poor exposed chry- 

 salis the moment it 

 is released from the 

 cocoon. As the 

 winding proceeds, 

 . the cocoons become 



thinner and thinner until the insects within are 

 visible. The chrysalis, though covered with a 

 horny skin, and apparently without much sensation, 

 shows very plainly that it is sensible of the rough 

 treatment it is receiving, as the cocoon is tossed 

 about in the water by the motion of the reel. It 

 rapidly moves the rings of its tail, which is doubt- 



