164 THE CALIFORNIA 



straw, or pure white, according to the variety. The 

 outer covering is like the finest wool, and is called /loss. 

 It is easily detached, and being removed, the end of a 

 thread is discovered, of extreme fineness. 



After an interval of from fifteen to twenty days' 

 repose, the moth ejects from its mouth a liquor which 

 moistens the gum, and dissolves the adhesiveness of 

 the texture of the ball ; and by frequent motions of its 

 head, it loosens and forces aside the filaments, without 

 sundering a single silken thread, until it reappears, 

 transformed to a large butterfly, of a greenish white 

 color, with four wings ; two eyes, and two black feathery 

 horns or plumes ; unshrouded in this its last and perfect 

 form. Both male and female, they come forth to the 

 light of the day, and take no food to the day of their 



death. 



> 



The butterflies generally come out of their cocoons 

 between seven and nine o'clock in the morning. At 

 that time they have to be paired, and in the afternoon 

 at about five o'clock, they should be separated. In 

 all cases, they must be handled by the wings, with 

 care, so as not to hurt them. As soon as separated from 

 the male, the female begins to lay the eggs. Each 

 female is supposed to lay about three hundred, and 

 sometimes more. These eggs firmly adhere to the 

 paper on which they are ; and are arranged in a hand- 

 some and circular form. In a few days after its multi- 

 farious labors are ended, the insect dies. 



The silkworms remain in a chrysalis state a length of 

 time corresponding with the temperature of the climate. 



