The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1890-11-21
THE SILK-W0RM.
Various Transformations Through
Which It Must Pass.
It Was Originally a Native OF China and
Was introduced In Europe in 500
Its Value to Commerce
What 1t Eats

This little creature, whose labors arc
OF such incalculable value 10 mankind,
is supposed TO havo been indigenous TO
China. In that country, at least the
discovery was first made that the prod
uct Of the silk-worm's operations could
be elaborated into articles OF human at
tire. richer and more beautiful than
any TO be derived from other sources
At an early period, considerable
commerce was established IN silk be-
tween Eastern and Western Asia, from
which latter quarter it was conveyed TO
Europe; but not until the sixth century
OF the Christian era was Il distinctly
known by Europeans that the splendid
tissues, which they had worn for
moro than a thousand years and
which they had even partially
manufactured from the raw transported
material, were the product originally Of
a sr0r7n. The first silk-worms seen IN
Europe were brought from China in the
year 552 by two Persian monks who
had gone thither as Christian mission
aries, and who con trivcd TO secretc
number Of the silk-worms' eggs in a
cane, and TO escape with them TO Con-
stantinople. From these fcw eggs have
sprung all the successive generations OF
silk-worms which have supplied silk 10
Europe from that period 70 the present
time ".'---'-''-.-,--
The valuable insect whose history has
been thus briefly detailed receives from
naturalists the appellation OF b0D.byL. L
IS OF tho caterpillar tribe, and, like It's
congeners, passes through q number OF
transformations IN the course Of Its eX-
istcnce. Its first state is that OF tho
larva or caterpillar, which II enters into
on leaving the egg; its second state is
that of the pupa o- clrysGls; and its
third state IS that Of the image or 5a0th
The silk-worm moth IS Of considerable
size and is Of a grayish color. The fc-
male moth deposits its eggs On the mul-
berry tree, the leaves OF which, as will
be afterwards explained. form the sole
subsistence OF the silk-worm. This de-
posit, when the creatures are not under
artificial management, is made about
tho middle OF summer and the eggs Of
one moth usually amount in number 70
three or four hundred. They are about
the size OF mustard-seeds, and, at first,
yellow IN color, but afterwards assume
q blush gray cast.
Being fastened by a sort of glue 20
the spot, the egg Of the silk-worn re-
rain, until tho period for the Matching
Of the young caterpillar. After autumn
and winter are passed, tho egg opens in
May, and the worm which issues is
about a quarter OF an inch IN length,
thin IN body, and OF blaclish tint. It
soon shows 4 desire for food, and begins
TO feed on the mulberry leaves, though
without exhibiting any inclination 20
roam from the spot where il first came
TO life. For eight days It continues TO
cat with avidity, and increases to near-
y twice its original magnitude. At the
end of this time il falls into what Is
called fits first sickness, and leaves of
eating for three days, when II casts its
first skin. This molting IS repeated
four times, at regular intervals, before
the worm attains tho complete cater
pillar state, which commonly takes
place about q month after the Matching
of the worm. The reason OF these sue
cessive moltings is TO be sought for IL
the rapid growth OF the worm, which
increases its bulk many thousand-folc
during these changes The origina
skin. when once become hardened,
could scarcely be distended at a rate
sufficient to accommodate the augment
ing size Of the creature, and therefore
number of coverings have been pro
vided in embryo to obyiate the diff
Guilty. The plan which the worm takes
to get out of its skin is to fasten the
latter TO the leaf Dy sort of silky glue,
which holds it fast, until the inmate
rubs Its head against tho leaf, breaks
of the scales, and finally drags through
its whole body.
Ten days after its fourth molting,
the worm attains its complete cater
pillar state, and is then about two and
a half inches long, with twelve parallel
and equi-distant membranous rings
round its green body, and sixteen legs
arranged in pairs, Of which the five
posteTior ones are movable, and the
three anterior pairs scaly and immoy-
able, serving, seemingly, for supports
only. The caterpillar has fourteen
eyes, seven on each side Of the head,
and along the body are eighteen holes
for the creatures breathing. each hole
being connected with some kind Of res
piratOry organ. The mouth is placed
vertically, and the jaws are indcntcd
like the teeth Of Z saw. Immediately
beneath the mouth are two small holes.
placed close TO each other, and through
which proceeds the silk which the
creature spins. These holes are con-
nccted with two bags or tubes in the
interior of the body, in which is secret
ed the yellow, gummy substance which
the silk. These tubes or
bags are of great length, in comparison
with the animals body, being each
about ten inches long They are wound
round portion Of the intcstines Is on
Z spindle, and do not communicate di-
-ectly with tho external holes, but by
means Of sort Of crater, pierced with
many openings, through which the silk
gum is drawn out in many fillments.
TO be united as they issue by the cxter-
nal aperture into one thread
Having fed itself during the ten days
to the last molting up to the
iull size the caterpillar, constituted as
we have described, begins 70 feel the
OF nature urging IL 20 the next
shange of its condition. which is neces-
'ary TO bring IL 10 the moth or butterfly
state, and which is accompanied with
operations most beneficial 20 the human