NATURAL HISTORY. 3 
‘When the worms are hatched, fome tender mulberry leaves are pro- 
Z 
wided, and placed in the cloth or paper box in which the eggs were’ 
aid, and which are large enough to hold a great number. When they 
ave acquired fome ftrength, they muft be diftributed on beds of mul- 
erry leaves, in the different ftories of the fquare in the middle of the 
Toom, round which a perfon may freely pafs on every fide. They will 
fix themfelves to the leaves, and afterwards to the flicks of the hurdles, 
when the leaves are devoured. They have then a thread, by which 
they can fufpend themfelves on occafion, to prevent any fhock by a fall; 
but this is by no means to be confidéred, as the filk which they 
{pin afterwards in fuch abundance. Care muft be taken that freth 
leaves be brought every morning, which muft be ftrewed very gently 
and equally over them; upon which the filk worms will forfake the 
Temainder of the old leaves, which muft be carefully taken away, and 
€very thing kept very clean; for nothing hurts thefe infects fo much as 
Moifture and uncleanlinefs. For this reafon their leaves muft be 
' Gathered when the weather is dry, and kept in a dry place, if it be ne- 
Ceffary to lay in fore. As thefe animals have but a fhort time to live, 
they make ufe of every moment, and almoft continually are {pinning, 
fxcept at thofe intervals when they change their fkins. If mulberry 
leaves be difficult’ to be obtained, the leaves of lettuce or holyoak will 
fuftain them: but they do not thrive fo well upon their new diet ; and 
their filk will neither be fo copious, nor of fo good a quality. 
. Though the judicious choice, and careful management of their diet, 
1s abfolutely neceflary, yet there is another precaution of equal impor- 
tance, which is to give them air, and open their chamber windows, at 
fuch times as the fun fhines warmeft. The place alfo muft be kept as 
Clean as poflible; not only the feveral floors that are laid to receive 
their ordure, but the whole apartments in general. Thefe things well 
bferved, contribute greatly to their health and increafe. 
The worm, at the time it burfts the fhell, is extremely fmall, and of 
@black colour; but the head is of a more fhining black than the reft of 
the body: fome days after, they begin to turn whitifh, or of an afh- 
Coloured grey. After the tkin begins to grow too rigid, or the animal 
4S flinted within it, the infect throws it off, and appears clothed a-new: 
it then becomes larger and much whiter, though it has a greenith calt: 
ter fome days, which are more or lefs, according to the different heat 
f the climate, or to the quality of the food, it leaves off eating, and 
“ems to fleep for two days together: then it begins to ftir, and put 
‘elf into violent motions, till the fkin fall off the fecond time, and is 
Town afide by the animal’s feet. All thefe changes are made in three 
Weeks or a month’s time; after which it begins to feed once more, itill 
‘its caterpillar form, but a good deal differing from itfelf before its 
— ange. In a few days’ time it feems to fleep again; and, when it 
Wakes it again changes its clothing, and continues feeding as before. 
hen it has thus taken a fufficiency of food, and its parts are difpofed 
MS affuming the aurelia form, the animal forfakes for the laft time, all 
°0d and fociety, and prepares itfelf a retreat to defend it from exter. 
a’ injuries, while it is feemingly deprived of life and motion. 
Re his retreat is no other than its cone, or ball of filk,” which Nature 
taught it to compofe with great art; and within which it buries 
om be irfelf, 
