INSECT MANUFACTURES. PUBLISHED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE COMMITTEE OF GENERAL LITERATURE AND EDUCATION, APPOINTED BY THE SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE. LONDON: PRINTED FOR THE SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE. SOLD AT THE DEPOSITORY, GREAT QUEEN STREET, LINCOLN’S INN FIELDS AND 4, ROYAL EXCHANGE. 1847. LONDON R. CLAY, PRINTER, BREAD STREET HILL. [Illustration: INSECT MANUFACTURES] CONTENTS. Page INTRODUCTION 3 CHAPTER I. MANUFACTURE OF SILK BY CATERPILLARS OF VARIOUS KINDS 9 CHAPTER II. MANUFACTURE OF SILK BY THE SILKWORM 31 CHAPTER III. MANUFACTURE OF SILK BY SPIDERS 55 CHAPTER IV. MANUFACTURE OF WAX BY THE HIVE BEE, THE HUMBLE BEE, AND THE WHITE WAX INSECT OF CHINA 73 CHAPTER V. MANUFACTURE OF HONEY BY THE HIVE BEE 99 CHAPTER VI. MANUFACTURE OF COCHINEAL BY THE COCCUS CACTI, OR COCHINEAL INSECT 113 CHAPTER VII. MANUFACTURE OF GUM LAC BY THE LAC INSECT 133 CHAPTER VIII. MANUFACTURE OF NUT GALLS BY THE GALL INSECT 143 CHAPTER IX. OTHER INSECT PRODUCTIONS USEFUL TO MAN 154 [Illustration] INTRODUCTION. If we are struck with wonder and admiration at the progress of the arts and manufactures, and have daily reason to congratulate ourselves on the skill and ingenuity of our fellow-creatures, by which our comforts and conveniences are so much increased; it must also occasionally have crossed our minds, that some of the meaner creatures, though not gifted with our reasoning powers, and therefore not able to profit by the experience of the past, are yet employed in their several departments, and according to their several wants, in exceedingly curious and useful manufactures, mostly designed for the shelter and preservation of themselves or their offspring, but serving, not unfrequently, a higher purpose, in administering to the wants of mankind.