2690 Thk Zoologist— July, 1871. 



moths are then detached from the females and thrown away. The female 

 moths are placed in other baskets like the first, inside of which, on the 

 paper, they will soon deposit their seed. The baskets must be kept closed 

 to prevent their escaping. 



" The baskets containing seed are kept in rooms sufficiently warm (about 

 70° Fahr., the temperature of the season in fine weather), and after twelve 

 days the seed will be hatched. When the young worms are all out, oak- 

 branches with tender leaves are cut and stuck in earthen pots or wooden 

 boxes, filled with well-moistened sand or mud to preserve the freshness of 

 the leaves. The baskets containing the newly-hatched worms are then 

 placed close to the branches, on which the worms will instinctively ascend 

 in search of food ; more fresh branches are added in the same manner, as 

 food must always be abundantly supplied. When the worms have passed 

 the second mitt a (Italian term for each successive period of feeding and 

 sleeping of silkworms), a fine day is chosen to transfer the worms to the 

 bushes. This is done by holding the branches, on which the worms are, 

 close to the bushes, paying attention to distribute them weU, so as to avoid 

 placing too many on some bushes and too few on others. A certain number 

 of bushes are always to be kept in reserve, in case that it should be found 

 necessary to remove to them worms which have consumed all the leaves 

 where first placed. This operation is done by cutting the branches bearing 

 the worms and transferring them as already indicated. In case it is not 

 convenient to do so, then each worm must be seized with the thumb and 

 fore finger by the posterior end, and suddenly pulled off at the same time; 

 otherwise, such is their power of adhesion, they would be torn to death 

 sooner than relinquish their hold. All kinds of birds must be kept away, 

 to prevent the destruction of the worms. 



" Eomby.Y Pei'nyi undergoes five rnuta: of the following periods: — 



1st muta from 4 to 5 days, 

 iind „ „ 7 „ 8 „ 

 3rd „ „ 9 „10 „ 

 4th „ „ 10 „11 „ 

 5th ,, „ 12 ,, Id ,, 



having in average, from the hatching to the beginning of formation of 

 cocoon, a period of forty-five days. The worms, after undergoing the fifth 

 tnuta, will form the cocoons in about three days ; but as a general rule they 

 are not gathered till after the fifth day, in order to give time for the perfect 

 formation of cocoons by such worms as are somewhat later than others. 



" The cocoons reserved for obtaining seed for the second yearly pro- 

 duction are spread out to dry for three or four days, and are then strung 

 together, as mentioned for the first production. The moths will issue from 

 the cocoons after twelve or fifteen days from the gathering of cocoons. The 



