SILK-WORMS. 
85 
eggs. It is easy to prove these facts rational. I 
stated (Chap. V. § 3.), that thirty-one thousand 
one hundred and sixty-eight eggs, which consti- 
tute an ounce, might produce about one hundred 
and sixty-five pounds of cocoons. If, upon this 
statement, w r e consider the loss of worms to be 
great 'when we obtain one hundred and twenty 
pounds of cocoons from one ounce of eggs, the 
loss will be essentially greater, should we only 
obtain sixty pounds. It is natural that by this 
greater mortality a greater consumption of leaves 
should result, as the worms, which do not reach 
the consummation of the cocoon, feed more or less 
as well as those that accomplish the cocoon. 
The great mortality of the worms must also 
affect the quality of the cocoon ; for who could 
suppose that two-thirds of the worms, pro- 
ceeding from one ounce of eggs, should die, 
without some error or want of care ? If want of 
care, or erroneous cai-e, should have caused the 
death of such numbers, are we not justified in 
thinking that part of those that remain may be 
weakened and injured? 
This would be still more forcible, if, as it fre- 
quently happens, the sixty pounds of cocoons 
should be reduced to forty-five, thirty, fifteen, 
8fc. SfC. 
Whereas, if one ounce of eggs shall have pro- 
duced, by the means I have stated, one hundred 
