INSECTS. 497 
count of its utility, rather than any elaborate description 
of its figure or colour. 
This larvae feeds on the leaves of the mulberry-tree, 
and, when first produced, is extremely small and entirely 
black. In a few days it appears in a new habit, which is 
white, tinged with the colour of its food ; and before it 
goes into its chrysalis state, it assumes several other dresses. 
When full grown it spins its cone of silk, which is its co- 
coon, in the same manner as other insects. The moth pos- 
sesses no beauty. 
The art of manufacturing silk was known to the an- 
cients; but, in Europe, this commodity, long after its in- 
vention, was of very great value. We are informed that, 
in the third century, the wife of the Roman emperor Au- 
relian entreated him to give her a robe of purple silk, and 
that he refused this on account of its enormous price. 
It is not certain at what precise period the silk manu- 
facture was first introduced into England. But in the year 
1242, we are told that part of the streets of London were 
covered or shaded with silk, for the reception of Richard, 
the brother of Henry III. on his return from the Holy 
Land. In 1454 the silk manufactures of England are 
said to have been confined merely to ribbons, laces, and 
other trifling articles. Queen Elizabeth, in the third year 
of her reign, was furnished by her silk-woman with a pair 
of black knit silk stockings, which she is stated to have 
admired as " marvellous delicate wear;" and after the 
using of which she no longer had cloth ones as before. James 
the First, whilst King of Scotland, requested of the Earl 
of Mar the loan of a pair of silk stockings to appear in be- 
fore the English ambassador, enforcing his request with 
the cogent appeal, " For ye would not, sure, that your 
king should appear as a scrub before strangers." 
