Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1845-04-25
BY T.. p. WALTON & SONS.

ne was undressing, enurely owed lnelr eNlStenCe 10
The necessity OF concealing little worm from OBJ
servation and danger In reference to this part Of
his subject, the lecturer said shall take the la
dies before me into Natures silk factory, and ex-
hibit TO them all the complicated machinery from
which this important article OF commerce and OF
dress is derived? Shall exhibit Natures spin
ming wheels, her silk mills d? If you examine the
interior of the silk-wom or caterpillar, you will
find that it contains two long bags. Screwed into
the under lip is little pipe which opens into the
little convoluted tubes. These tubes contain the
fluid silk in state of such tonacity, that sooner
does the worm attach its under lip to any object,
than it has nothing to do but draw back its head,
and film of the utmost delicacy, being drawn out,
hardens into silk; and the creature perpetually
drawing back IFS head and moving it into different
directions, the iilament have described is wound
round and round lis body. ] need not attempt to
describe how this silk is separated from the crcu-
atng fluid that gives rise 10 so many other secrc-
tons 1t is not more wonderful than to see the tear
of affection or the bile Of misery issuing or becon-
ing separated from the same blood in our own per-
sons but allowing Nature the power Of separating
this liquid silk, we see the simple manner in which
the lilament is formed. In the faculty given 70 the
lepidopterous caterpillar of making this eAken
thread, IT is the comfort, safety. and happiness -
che animal itself, that IS primarily considered and
mankind is here made secondary object. Letme
endeavor to show you one or two contrivances to
this end. caterpillar is a sluggish, slow-moving
animal If it had TO change its place from one
tree to another, it would require march Of one or
two days to accomplish its removal by the ordinary
means Of locomotion but for this slow motion this
slken cord makes a compensation. Does it wish
| to descend? II CLUES the silken thread to the
bough, and quickly lets itself down with the same
facility as the sailor lowers himself from the yard
arm by a rope. But silk is u fluid sailor can
not descend by rope Of sand or of water; but
this little caterpillar is placed in that position; it
| Il bty 1nttiI oil ipaI
or two of its rope to come out at time; and it
judges Of the tenacity of the fluid with such nice
ty, that 1t will allow Just sufficient, say an inch, to
escape to bear it up, and then waits till that has
hardened into silk, before it lets out another inch;
and thus cord Of sufficient length is soon produc
ed. Does Nature wish to give ladder instead of
a rope! Coniine caterpillar in n glass tumbler
with smooth sides, which it is absolutely unable TO
climb without assistance. 1t will make beautiful
ladder, glueing its silk in a zigzag Manner and
climbing the ladder as it is completed below, and
still manufacturing it above; and thus it will soon
arrive at the top of the glass. But it is principally
to preserve the insect during its clysaLiS condition
that silk is given to it. 1t seems to be aware, that,
notwithstanding all its active enemies, it is to be
subjected to a state of absolute imbecity and, in
order TO defend itself while in this condition, every
process that can be imagined is entered into by
Nature 1t will select place to hang itself up in
security from danger and observation. But how
man like mummy, tie his hands and feet together,
and put him head downwards in bag, and then tie
him up by the feet TO the bough of a tree and tell
him TO get out apprchend it would be a feat in
attempting which the most expert iuggler would
find himself at loss. But this is precisely what is
done in nature.
The caterpillar, finding sclfabout to make its last
change, spins little silk, with which it fastens it
self to the under surface Of the leaf that forms the
penthouse from which it is suspended. The old
skin splits down the back; the split gradually be-
comes larger, and the chrysas is gradually more
and more displayed, till at last it is pushed down as
far as is consistent with the separation of the little
animal. But the caterpillar is not to be left simply
hanging in its old skin; but it has to get out of it,
and to hang itself to the bottom oSthe leaf. How
is this to be done? Taking hold of its own Skin
between the little joints which it is able to move
it Just gets sufficient grippe to enable it TO support
ITSELF 1t works its tail out of the remaining portion
of its vestment, and putting few hooks, placed by
nature for the purpose amongst the silk it had pre-
Viousy woven while in caterpillar state, it finds
itself hung up in a state of security, and by few
movements Of its body shakes down the old skin
leaving it apparently as though it had always eXs
ted in that condition. | have said that it is Law
of Nature that insects should he produced from
eggs; but Nature can make exceptions to her owl
laws, and perhaps the exceptions she does maxi
are amongst the most beautiful illustrations of he
power. There are cases in which it would be in
convenient that insects should lay eggs. | hay
told YOU, that Nature has her scavengers, and in
sects are among the most important OF these labor
ers. The nesh-hy, that because it destroys littl
meat in your larders you destroy, is one of thes
silent agents in the hands of Nature. Lluneu
stated that he believed single flesh fly would Ell
up the body OF horse sooner than lion woul
The lion could only eat its meal, and lie down
sleep for two or three days. till its appetite WI
again awakened; so that three weeks would pc
haps eapse, before the lion could remove the p
tritying flesh from the surface Of the earth. Il
the little iesh-fy comes and lays, not eggs as OF
er insects would but there is no delay here. N
ture wants agents ready, active and hungry for Il
work and she therefore dspenses with her ov
law in this case The fesh-fy deposits in the ile'
Il great number Of hungry maggots which gro
with rapidty unmatched in creation; they pa
through their insect changes with remarkable ra
idity; and another brood of hesh-fies again pI
duces other maggots, till, in the course Of thr
. weeks, millions Of maggots produced, viii
soon remove the purifying carcase from the cal
which it would contaminate if allowed to stay.
- The beetles, or coleOpterd, undergo metamorpl
sis exceedingly analogous to that in butterflies a
for other insects and therefore shall not dwell at a
rcr, length upon it. will simply take the cockchaii
llch the eggs of which give rise to grub that cray
IAN beneath the roots Of the grass, and greatly inu
the the farmer by destroying the heritage. This gr
tan after changing It's skin, becomes converted, not
that TO chjySdilS entirely deprived Of limbs, but one
ggs, which the future organs are rudely sketched;
hey legs are enclosed in case the wings are likew
that provided with proper coverings; and from tn
was cases the limbs OF the perfect cockchaifer, wi
pro- complete, are exricated. The neluopera, dr.
with on-hy tribe, undergo changes not little curic
ham The ierne eo or ant-lion for example, present
the strange contrast when compared in its infant
ID in in its perfect stages of existence Both the oh,
AMI ais and the perfect insect live upon ants, and
,ort how different in their external confguration?
) its are active animals and though they may be
was troyed by the voracous and tiger like erme-ieO,
of is the less perfect animal to seize upon them?
skin untlion is obliged to have recourse to stratag
)ear- 1t works itself backward into the dry sand, vii
efne the ants are found in great numbers, till it ma
were conica hole, buryng itself at the bottom exc
just the forceps that form its jaws and thus 1t RENT
Il for nupt iii some unfortunate ant stumbling over