Feeding of the _Worms_, and preserving them from sickness, and Curing them of it, together with the way of making them spin to best advantage. _Thirdly_, The manner of winding their Silk from their Bottoms, adding the _Scheme_ of the _Instrument_ serving for that purpose. _Fourthly_, The way of _keeping_ _Silkworms_ Eggs for the ensuing year. Through the whole Book are scattered many not inconsiderable particulars, though perhaps known to most. The _White Mulberry Tree_, as it is in other qualities preferable to the _Black_, so this _Author_ esteems it the best, not only for the durableness of the wood, and its large extent of usefulness in Carpentry and Joyners work; but also for the fitness of its leaves (besides their principal use for the food of _Silkworms_) to fatten Sheep, Goats, Cowes, and Hoggs, only by boyling and mingling them with Bran. The Berryes themselves he commends as very excellent to fatten Poultry, and to make them lay Eggs plentifully. In the _Changes_, _Working_, and _Generation_ of this _Insect_, he is very curious to observe many things. Their _Metamorphoses_, as is known, are four, whereof the form of the one hath no conformity with any of the rest. The first from an Egge (of the bigness of a Mustard-seed, and of a darkish Gray Colour, when good) to a _Worm_ or _Caterpillar_, but of a domestick, noble, and profitable kind, _Black_, when it first comes {89} forth, but growing _white_ at last; having 24. feet, 8. on each side of the body, and 4. besides, close to each side of the head. During this form, they undergo constantly 4. Sicknesses, in which they cast their Skins, each sickness lasting about 4. days, wherein they feed not at all; but grow clearer, shorter, and thicker. The second from a _Worm_ to an _Aurelia_ or _Chrysalis_, having the shape of a small Plum, whereunto it is transformed after its spinning time is past; in which state it lies shut up, in hot Countries, for 14. or 15. dayes; in more temperate ones, 18. or 20. without any Food or Air, known to us. During which time this _Insect_ leaves two Coats, both that of a _Worm_, whence 'tis changed into an _Aurelia_, and that of an _Aurelia_, whence it becomes a _Papilio_ or _Butterfly_, in the _Theca_ or _Case_. The third is, from an _Aurelia_ to a _Butterfly_, coming out of the _Theca_ with a head, leggs, and horns; for which passage it makes way by a whitish water, it casts upon the Silk, which moistning, and thereby in a manner putrefying it, the new creature thrusts out its head through the sharp end of the _Case_, by a Hole as big as its self. There is found no Excrement in the _Case_, but the two Skins only, just now mentioned.