INSECTS. 



Siik Worm. 



Chrysalides. 



Cucoons of the Silk Worm 



The Silk Worm, the most valuable of all the moths, has no pretensions to beauty. The wings are whitish, 

 with two or three obscure and brown streaks, and a crescent-like spot, on the superior pair. Its eggs are 

 of a straw color, and each about the size of a pin's head. Its larva, known by the name of the Silk Worm, 

 when first produced, is extremely small, and entirely black, and changes its dress before it assumes the 

 chrysalis state. In this state it commences spinning a cone or cocoon of silk thread, in which it envelopes 

 itself, and though weighing two grains and a half, the thread measures nine hundred feet. Here it continues 

 about twenty days, till it undergoes its final transformation, when,by an effort at that part of the cone which is 

 always left thin and is easily broken, it emerges from its silken palace to revel in the light and life of an 

 aerial existence. This wonderful insect is found in a native state on the mulberry trees in the northern 

 provinces of China, whence it was introduced to Europe in the reign of Justinian by the Greek missionaries. 

 Some of the first Crusaders brought it from the Morea, and several centuries afterwards it was cultivated 

 in France under the administration of Sully. The art of manufacturing silk was known to the ancients 

 Pliny says, the cocoons were first unwound and woven t>y Pamphila, a woman of Coos, the daughter of 

 Lateus. When it was introduced into England is not certain, but Queen Elizabeth had a pair of black silk 

 stockings presented to her, in the third year of her reign, which she said was " a marvellous delicate wear," 



and would never after use stockings of any other fabric. A 

 characteristic anecdote is told of James I. of England, whilst 

 King of Scotland. Having observed the Earl of Mar wearing 

 a pair of silk stockings, he begged the loan of them to appear 

 before the English ambassador ; " For ye would not, sure," said 

 he, "that your king should appear as a scrub before strangers." 

 The Ghost Moth, has yellow wings, intersected with broad 

 orange lines. It flies in the dusk of the evening, hovering up 

 and down in one particular spot for a long time together, often 

 in church yards, whence its English name. It lays very small 

 eggs which the female discharges with some force, like the 

 pellet from a pop-gun. The caterpillar is of a cream color; and 

 feeds on hops. 



The Diamond Beetle is so named, because its' breast is 

 covered with a crimson-colored shield, shining like metal ; tha 

 head is of the same color, mixed with green, and on the crown 

 of the head stands a shining, black horn, bended backwards. 

 It is sometimes called " the king of the beetles." Not a very 

 high compliment to kingship, since it lives and acts as filthily 





« ftndi. Buueiflies. c. the Epjjs. d. Pupa. c. Silk Worm. <1S most Others of the class. 



C360) 



