6 
THE ART OF REARING 
As the animal increases more than the skin admits 
of distension, this falls off and is replaced by a 
second which is softer ; this again is detached in 
the same manner as the first, and is followed by a 
third, a fourth, and so on. 
The slough of caterpillars is an entire covering 
applied to all the exterior parts of the animal, in 
which you recognise the hairs, the feet, the head, 
the skull, the jaws, teeth, 8fC. 
As soon as the skin begins to pinch the cater- 
pillar, it immediately abstains more or less from 
food, which circumstance points out with certainty 
the disease occasioned by casting of the skin. 
This is the reason also why the caterpillar becomes 
much less as the time of changing its skin ap- 
proaches. 
Then it throws out at different points of its body 
silky traces, which it attaches to neighbouring 
bodies, in order that, while it exerts itself, the 
skin which covers it may remain fixed in the spot 
where it is placed. When this operation is fi- 
nished the animal remains more or less quiet, and 
afterwards generally begins to move its head, 
turning itself about. Thus, the mask or scale 
which covers its snout being pushed forwards by 
the new skin formed underneath, is the first por- 
tion detached. 
The mask being detached, the caterpillar pushes 
forwards, with effort, through the opening of the 
