SILK-WORMS. 
99 
they carry and place with ease the small boughs 
loaded with silk-worms, and by inclining them 
obliquely upon the hurdle, slip off the boughs 
gently into the strips allotted for them, being 
careful, lightly with the hand to move those that 
may not be properly placed, filling the vacant 
spots with them, so as to render the distribution 
regular. 
This operation concluded, some worms will be 
found to have remained upon the litter ; with 
fresh boughs these may be removed as the others 
were, and distributed upon the hurdles : should 
any after this remain torpid in the litter they may 
be cast away. 
The leaf on which the -worms were removed 
affords them a slight meal ; they devour and en- 
tirely pierce it, until the fibrous part alone is left, 
which shews that the mere contact of good warm 
air has sufficed to give strength and hardness to 
the jaws of these insects, which they possessed not 
before. 
It is observable that the silk-worms like the 
tender boughs so much, that they are found heap- 
ed upon them, even when they hay<a entirely eaten 
the leaves off, and never leave them to return to 
the litter below. This remark will doubtless do 
away the idea which is prevalent, that the silk- 
worm likes the litter to lie on, and to feed upon it. 
The means I have described for removing the 
