90 THE CALIFORNIA 



standing the many peculiar facilities which France en- 

 joys for this her favorite staple. 



THE SILK WORM HOW IT LIVES", SPINS, DIES, AND ITS 

 RESURRECTION AND PROPAGATION. 



The silk worm is, like its kindred species, subject to 

 four metamorphoses: the egg, fostered by the genial 

 warmth of spring, sends forth a caterpillar, which, in 

 its progressive enlargement, casts its skin either three 

 or four times, according to the variety of the insect. 

 Having acquired its full size in the course of thirty or 

 thirty-four days, and ceasing to eat during the remainder 

 of its life, it begins to discharge a viscid secretion in 

 the form of pulpy, twin filaments from its nose, which 

 harden in the air ; these threads are instinctively coiled 

 into an oval nest round itself, called a cocoon, which 

 serves as a defense against living enemies, and the 

 changes of the temperature. Here it soon changes into 

 a chrysalis or nymph state, in which it lies swaddled, as 

 it were, for about fifteen or twenty days ; then it bursts 

 its cerements and comes forth, furnished with appro- 

 priate wings, antennae, and feet, for living in its new 

 element the atmosphere. The male and female moths 

 couple together at this time, and after separating, the 

 female lays the eggs and soon dies, their whole existence 

 being limited to two months. The cocoons are com- 

 pletely formed in the course of four days, the finest 

 being reserved as seed worms. From these cocoons, 

 after an interval of fifteen or twenty days, the moth 

 makes its appearance, perforating its tomb by knocking 



