CHINESE MODE OF REARING SILKWoRMS. 141 
we gave a plentiful supply of leaves, morning and 
evening, and in the course of four days several of 
them grew considerably, and prepared for their 
transformation, and in seven days all of them had 
assumed the pupa state. The whole of them in 
due time burst from their pupa form, and became 
perfect insects, except the one which had first be- 
come a pupa. On opening it, we found it entirely 
empty ; all its vital parts having been completely 
dried up and absorbed. We carefully examined 
the various butterflies, but could perceive no differ- 
ence in the size of those which had been ill fed, 
and those which had revelled in abundance. 
From the above experiment, we proved that the 
period of transformation between the larva and pupa 
condition can be protracted. 
In China very rigid attention is given to the cat- 
erpillars in the early stage of their existence, and 
they are fed by night as well as by day. The day 
on which they are hatched they are supplied with 
forty meals, thirty on the second day, and reduced 
by certain proportions for some days thereafter, till 
they come to twice a-day. When hazy or damp 
weather occurs during the feeding season, the appe- 
tites of the caterpillars are considerably affected by 
this change of the atmosphere. Those who tend 
them burn straw over the worms, which dries the 
air, warms it, and stimulates them to feed freely. 
Cleanliness is considered of vital importance to 
