148 THE SILKWORM MOTH. 



The followJng represents the female Silkworm 

 Moth, about two-thirds of the size of life, in the 

 act of laying her eggs : 



The number produced by one female is variously 

 stated. Some accounts mention 250, while others 

 reckon 400 to 500 as the usual number. 



One of the most astonishing circumstances con- 

 nected with the natural history of SilkwoiTns, is 

 the degi'ce in which their bulk and length are in- 

 creased, and the very limited time in which that is 

 accomplished. Count Dandolo counted and weighed 

 many a hundred thousand eggs, and found that, 

 on an average, sixty-eight sound Silkworm's eggs 

 weighed one gi-ain. One ounce,'* therefore, com- 

 prised 39,168 eggs. But one-twelfth part of this 



" This ounce contains 576 giiiins ; 8.5325 of tlicse griiins 

 equal seven grains troy. One ounce avoirdupois is therefore 

 equal to about 533 of these grains, and between onc-twelftli 

 and onc-thirtecntli ounce avoirdupois equals one of the above 

 ounces. 



