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297 OBSERVATIONS on the native 



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Thofe firft hatched left off feeding, flirunk up 



fhort, and feemed motionlefs. I imagined they were fick 

 and changed their food, trying almoft every kind of vege- 

 table, in hopes of finding fomething that would agree with 

 thern better; but all to no purj^ofe. Having killed fevcral 

 in fhifting them from one kind of food to another, while 

 the reft ftill continued in the fame torpid ftate, notwith- 

 ilanding all I could do, I thought all my hopes of raifing 

 them were fruftrated and concluded they would perifli. 



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I was agreeably furprifed to fee the little ani 



mals, that I had given over as dead, creeping out of their 

 old fkins, and appearing much larger and more beautiful 

 than before. Finding themfelves difengaged, In a little 

 time they turned about and fell to devouring their old coat, 

 which feemed a delicious rcpafttothem; after which they 

 rcfted about twelve hours, and then began to feed on leaves 



as formerly with great eagernefs. 



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The eldeft worms again left ofF feeding, 



flirunk up very Ihort, and appeared fixed on the leaves al- 

 moft motionlefs. In this fituation they continued until 

 the 17th, on vv^hich day, after appearing to be very vio- 

 lently convulfed for near half an hour, they threw off 

 another (kin, which they eat as before, and then refting 

 about twelve hours, fell to their ufual food. 



June 20. One of my worms, that had juft difengaged 



itfelf from it's old covering, whilft it yet remained weak, 

 was deftroyed by a kind of bug armed with a long bill, 

 with which it pierced the fide of the worm, and fucked 

 out it's vitals. This bug, which I fancy, I muft have 

 broup"ht in with the leaves, I take to be a common enemy 

 to the filk worm in it's tender ftate* It's bill i& fo long, 

 that it can ftand at fome diftance from the worm, and with 

 Its weapon wound it, notwithftanding the bunches of 

 hair or briftles, in form of a pencil, with which the worm 

 is covered, and which are it's principal defence. 



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My 



up, and on the 25th, threw off their third covering, which 

 they devoured, and after refting the ufual time,, returned 



to feed as before 



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