ITALIAN METHOD OF UNWINDING. 49 



other ; for if it did so, the threads would be glued 

 together before the gum had had time to harden 

 by exposure to the air. The threads of the four 

 or five cocoons are thus united into one strong 

 and smooth thread. Sometimes as many as thirty 

 cocoons are united into one thread, and it is difficult 

 to wind more. As often as a thread of any single 

 cocoon breaks or cornes to an end, the attendant 

 supplies its place by a new one, so that by con- 

 tinually keeping up the same number the united 

 thread may be wound to any length : these joinings 

 are not made by a knot, but the new end is simply 

 laid on the compound thread, to which it adheres 

 by its gum ; and as the threads are finer near their 

 termination than at the commencement, it is neces- 

 sary for the reeler to add other cocoons before the 

 first set is quite exhausted ; so that the compound 

 thread may be of uniform thickness. The filaments 

 of three fresh cocoons, added to two half-wound 

 ones, make a thread about equal to that from four 

 fresh cocoons. The cocoons are not entirely wound 

 off, but the husk containing the chrysalis is used 

 together with the floss silk under the name of 



