198 
THE ART OF REARING 
Chapter IX. 
OF THE SIXTH AGE OF THE SILK-WORMS, OR OF 
THE CHRYSALIS, GATHERING, PRESERVATION, 
AND DIMINUTION IN THE WEIGHT OF THE CO- 
COON. 
W e have seen In the pi'eceding chapters, that the 
fifth age of the silk-worms commences after the 
fourth casting of the skin, and ends when the in- 
sect has commenced its cocoon, and is transformed 
into the chrysalis, leaving their former envelope in 
the cocoon. 
The sixth age begins in the chrysalis state, and 
ends when they appear as moths, having left their 
shell in the cocoon that covered them. 
This age requires less care and attention than 
those preceding it, particularly if all the previous 
directions have been minutely adhered to. 
Still are the various operations required during 
this age of some importance, nor are they quite 
uninteresting. The following are the necessary 
things that remain to be done. 
1st. To gather the cocoons. 
2nd. To choose the cocoons which are to be 
preserved for the eggs or seed. 
3rd. Preservation of the cocoons until the ap- 
pearance of the moth . 
4th. Daily loss of weight which the cocoons 
