270 BERMUDA. 



peculiar kind of gum, very similar in its nature to the 

 matter which forms the silk itself. When the formation 

 of the ball is finished, the insect rests awhile from its toil, 

 and then throws off its caterpillar garb. If the cocoon 

 be now opened, its inhabitant will appear in the form of a 

 chrysalis or aurelia, in shape somewhat resembling a 

 kidney-bean, but pointed at one end, having a smooth 

 brown skin. 



The weight and length of reeled silk that can be 

 obtained from each cocoon are very variously stated by 

 different authors. Miss Ehodes, of Yorkshire, found that 

 one of her largest cocoons measured 404 yards. Pullein 

 considers the average to be 300 yards. 



The attendance required for the care of silkworms does 

 not wholly occupy the time of those employed, and it is, 

 therefore, difficult to ascertain its amount with correctness. 

 Pullein states, that for rearing the worms produced from 

 six ounces of eggs, two attendants are necessary until the 

 fourth age; and that after this period five or six persons 

 are required. 



From these data, it is found that to obtain one pound 

 of reeled silk, it requires twelve pounds of cocoons ; that 

 rather more than 2,800 worms are employed in forming 

 these cocoons ; and that to feed these during their cater- 

 pillar state, 152 pounds of mulberry leaves must be 

 gathered. 



This pound of reeled silk is capable of being converted 

 into sixteen yards of gros de Naples, of ordinary quahty, 

 or into fourteen yards of the best description. 



Experience has shown that some regulation of tempe- 

 rature is necessary in producing the moths from the 

 cocoons. If the heat in which these are placed be above 



