92 THE AMERICAN SILK WORM. 
distinguished from the female by its lighter form, and by its 
smaller abdomen, which is not so highly coloured as that 
of the female; but the most striking difference is in the 
antenne ; those of the male are pectinated, broad, and 
like two feathers adorning the head, while those of the 
female are narrow and very much smaller. 
Description of the Egg. The egg is about one-tenth of 
an inch in diameter, almost eylindmeat; with the two ends 
convex. The cylindrical surface is brown, with a narrow 
white spot about one-half the width of the egg; the two 
convex parts are white. One hundred of them weigh on 
the day they are laid, eight grains, but an evaporation 
of the fluid contents of the body takes place, and on 
_ the day the young hatch out, the same number weigh only 
six and two-third grains. One hundred and ten empty 
shells weigh one grain; about six thousand worms are 
equivalent in weight to one ounce. I will now proceed to 
give some instructions as to the rearing of the worm. 
They will be easily understood, if I have been clear 
enough in explaining the natural history of the Polyphe- 
mus Silk Worm. 
Selection and preservation of Cocoons intended for Stock. 
The cocoons’ intended for the propagation of the species 
for the following year, should be carefully selected. AS 
a general rule the female larva is larger than the male ; 50 
_ the cocoon of a female is also larger than the male cocoon. 
I estimate a cocoon to be a very good one, and the pupa 
vithin healthy, when it is heavy for its size, and resists” 
| ssure between the fingers, not being de- 
About one-half of the ‘Humber aaa 
