Silkworm Cock ineaL 237 



13. All the beautiful silk dresses, handker- 

 chiefs and ribbons are made from the material 

 which formed the case or cocoon of a Cater- 

 pillar, called the SILKWORM. 



14. The SILKWORM is hatched from an egg about the 

 size of a mustard seed ; it eats the leaves of the mulberry 

 tree, its only food, and grows rapidly. In two or three 

 weeks it begins to spin a very fine silken thread, which it 

 winds round and round itself until a ball, the size and 

 shape of a pigeon's egg, is formed. 



15. When it is done spinning, the silk must be carefully 

 and promptly unwound, or the Butterfly would burst the 

 cocoon and thus spoil the silk. To prevent this th(s 

 cocoons are sometimes placed in hot water or in a hot 

 oven, to kill the worm. By means of steam or hot vapor, 

 the threads are loosened so that they may be easily 

 unwound and the Silkworm saved. The manufacturer 

 usually puts ten or twelve of these threads together to 

 make one which would be strong enough for use in the 

 factory. 



1 6. It is not a little singular that this beautiful article 

 thus made by one Insect receives its bright crimson 

 and scarlet colors from another, the COCHINEAL BUG of 

 Mexico. 



17. The SILKWORM is raised chiefly in China, Japan, 

 France, Italy, and California. The Silkworm and other 

 Caterpillars breathe through several openings in their 

 sides. 



1 8. Next to the Silkworm, the Insect which is the most 

 useful to man is the BEE, which gives us delicious honey. 

 This the Bees gather from nearly all flowers, and store 

 away in nice little waxen cells, all of their own making. 



