68 WILDER, TERMEYER's 



like silk. But it will be said that such silk cannot be ta- 

 ken from the reel and brought into threads, and that is 

 true, but let it not be said to me that it is of no use. I 

 caused it to be spun with the distaff, and I had a very fine 

 and brilliant thread, which had beside such elasticity as to 

 stretch considerably without being broken, and to return 

 again to its first dimensions, which will be very useful when 

 there shall be a sufficient quantity to weave or of which to 

 make a netted or knitted fabric. 



I am also of the opinion that with a simple contrivance 

 having a few of the arrangements described for holding the 

 spider, it would be possible to draw the silk from all the 

 spiders at once, and to do it so that the threads uniting 

 would twist to form a single thread, as is done with the 

 threads of the cocoon ; whence both from its consistence 

 and size it could be easily wound from the reel and worked.^ 



Notwithstanding what I have just said to prove the 

 profit which can be drawn from spiders, or rather to cancel 

 in the mind of him who has read Reaumur, what he says to 

 the contrary, let no one imagine that I expect to induce men 

 to undertake the rearing of spiders instead of silk-worms. 

 It is enough if the readers of this are persuaded that here 

 is a branch of industry and commerce little attempted as 

 yet, and little known, from which those will be able to profit 

 who have industry, energy and determination. But who- 

 ever undertakes it must be prepared first of all to be re- 

 gardless of ridicule. 



The silk of spiders has another advantage over that of 

 the worms, viz. that it is often naturally tinted with beauti- 

 ful colors. Lesser'^ thinks that these colors are volunta- 

 rily given by the spiders, and Lyonnet believes they are the 

 result of accident. I think the spiders have different repos- 



f. This very thing was done by me with several spiders during the Fall 

 of 1864 and the Summer of 1865. Termeyer's apparatus for securing the 

 spider may be improved upon in several ways ; as, for instance, by holding 

 the insect upon its hack so as to expose the spinners, and by adapting the 

 notch which holds it to the shape of the insect so tliat it shall suffer no injury 

 during the operation. [Reviser.] 



9. Loc. cit. 



