The exquisite Fineness of the Silk spun by this little Creature, well deserves our Notice.
A Pod being wound off, was found to contain nine hundred and thirty Yards : But it is
proper to observe, that as two Threads are glewed together by the Worm through the
whole Length of the Silk, it really makes double the above Number, or one thousand
eight hundred and fixty Yards ; which being weighed with the utmost Exactness, were
found no heavier than two Grains and a half.
The whole Butterfly and Moth Tribe undergo the same Changes as the Silk-worm does,
though with some Variation, as to Time, and Place, and Manner. Some spin silky Cases
like them ; others wrap themselves up in Leaves, which they cement together by a gummy
Exsudation from their own Bodies ; some descend into the Ground, form Cases of Earth,
and wait their Changes there ; and others again only hang themselves by the Tail in some
shelter'd Corner, where from Catterpillars they become Aurelias, and from Aurelias, But-
ters?ies. There is likewise a considerable Difference as to Time, some passing through all
their Changes in a few Weeks, and some taking up above a Year. But they all agree in
proceeding from the Egg a Caterpillar, and becoming afterwards a Nymph, Chrysalis, or
Aurelia, and at last a Moth or Butterfly.
Some few Lines from a Poem before quoted, called the UNIVERSE, expressive of this
wonderful Change, will not, 'tis hoped, be thought improper here.
See, to the Sun the Butterfly displays
Its glitt'ring Wings, and wantons in bis Rays :
In Life exulting, o'er the Meadows flies,
Sips from each Flower, and breathes the vernal Skies.
Where Love directs, a Libertine, it roves,
And courts the Fair Ones through the verdant Groves ;
While its rich Plumes, in gracesul Order, show
The various Glories of the painted Bow.
How beauteous now ! how chang'd since?esterday !
When on the Ground, a crawling Worm it lay,
Where every Foot might tread its Soul away.
Who rais'd it thence, and bid it range the Skies ?
Gave its rich Plumage, and its brilliant Dyes ?
‘Twas GOD :----Its GOD and thine, O Man ! and He
In this thy Fellow-Creature lets Thee see,
That wond'rous Change which is ordain'd for Thee!
Thou too sbalt leave thy reptile Form behind,
And mount the Skies, a pure ætherial Mind,
There range among the Stars, all bright and unconfin'd.
PLATE XXIII. FIG. 3.
Eels in Vinegar
THESE little Animals wherewith Vinegar is sometimes abundantly stored, very
much resemble an Eel in Shape,
and in the Nimbleness of their Motion ; with
this Difference, however, that the wriggling Motion of their Bodies seems to be upwards
and downwards only ; whereas that of Eels is only sideways: Their Nose is likewise
something sharper than the Eel's, and more opake than the rest of the Body, as is shewn
at A.
Dr. HOOKE observed also a dark Part at B, which he imagined to be the Gills, as it
appeared at a small Distance from the Nose : And from this Part the Body grows conti-
nually tapering to the Tip of the Tail C.
