The history of silk, cotton, linen, wool, and other fibrous ... - Cd3wd.com

DESCRIPTION OF THE SILK-WORM.
of animal, silky, and excremental particles ;
Ill
this forms the state
of the growing caterpillar : in the next stage it is composed
of animal and silky particles ; it is then the mature caterpillar:
and lastly, it is reduced to the animal particles alone; and
is termed in this state the chrysalis. The poet Cowper, in
the following Unes, beautifully illustrates this subject
The beams of April, ere it goes,
A worm, scarce visible, disclose ;
All winter long content to dwell
The tenant of his native shell.
The same prolific season gives
The sustenance by which he lives.
The mulberry leaf, a simple store.
That serves him—till he needs no more !
For, his dimensions once complete.
Thenceforth none ever sees him eat
Though till his growing time be past
Scarce ever is he seen to fast.
That hour arrived, his work begins.
He spins and weaves, and weaves and spins
Till circle upon circle, wound
Careless around him and around,
Conceals him with a veil though slight,
Impervious to the keenest sight.
Thus self-inclosed, as in a cask,
At length he finishes his task :
And, though a worm when he was lost,
Or caterpillar at the most,
When next we see him, wings he wears.
And in papilio pomp appears ;
Becomes oviparous ; supplies
With future worms and future flies
'.
The ne.xt ensuing year—and dies
Well were it for the world if all
Who creep about this earthly ball.
Though shorter-lived than most he be,
Were useful in their kind as he.
It has been already noticed that the progressions of the in-
sects are accelerated by an iacrease of temperature ; and some
variation wiU equally be experienced where different modes of
treatment are foUowed ; and, in particular, where different
periods of the year are chosen in which to produce and rear the
worm. Malpighius, in his " Anatomy of the Silk-worm," says,
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