138 CHINESE MODE OF REARING SILKWORMS. 
warm and dry place. Next day a repetition of the 
same process is adopted, and then the eggs become 
of a pale gray colour. After being a third day 
subjected to the same mode of treatment, they as- 
sume a much darker hue, approaching nearly to 
black; and on the next morning, when the paper 
is spread out, the larvee are found to have burst 
from their confinement in the eggs, and are found 
moving about in a vivacious manner. 
The Chinese have recourse to ovens for the si- 
multaneous hatching the eggs of silkworms in the 
higher latitudes of that country ; and the strictest 
attention is paid in preserving their receptacles for 
the worms, in high and dry situations ; and every 
means is adopted to preserve the purity of the 
atmosphere, and the rooms are at the same time 
made quite air-tight. While the worms are yet 
young, they are very particular in preventing their 
being disturbed by noise ; but this we believe to 
be an absurd fancy. The doors of the rooms in 
which the worms are kept, are always open to the 
south. The worms are fed on hurdles, which are 
placed in frames, ranged in tiers, eight or ten 
deep, above each other. Great attention is paid to 
the uniform temperature of the rooms; and this 
is effected either by carrying chafing dishes or 
stoves through the apartments, or by the use of 
stoves. Smoke and flame are carefully guarded 
against, and the contents of a cow-house are care- 
