SILK-WORMS. 
97 
All these losses will be avoided by strictly fol- 
lowing the rules I have given. It is then useful 
to wait the revivification of the greatest number 
of the silk-worms before they are fed, particularly 
as these insects, when they have cast their skins, 
need free air and gentle heat more than food. 
Their organs assume greater consistency by ex- 
posure to the air. The small scaly muzzle, which 
they lose in moulting, is replaced by one softer, 
which the air indurates ; and till the small jaws, or 
sawing teeth, have acquired hardness and strength, 
they cannot divide the leaves. It is easy, with a 
magnifying glass, to observe the labour and effort 
with which the silk-worm endeavours to cut and 
gnaw tire leaf. Having given those general view's 
■which I thought might be useful, w r e will now re- 
sume our diary. 
First Day of the Second Age. 
(Sixth of the Rearing of the Silk-worm.) 
For this day will be needed nine pounds of 
young tender shoots, and nine pounds of mulberry 
leaves, well picked and chopped small. 
The space of seventy-three feet four inches 
square of tables or hurdles required for the second 
age of the silk-worms proceeding from five ounces 
of eggs, should be duly prepared ; and when 
nearly all the worms are roused, and begin mov- 
ing their heads, and rearing up as if they sought 
