It may be observed that in this use of water art only follows nature. When the moth is ready to leave its cell, it always softens the extremity of it by emitting a drop of fluid, and thus easily obtains for itself a passage. In the third volume of the Transactions of the Royal Asiatic Society (p. 543.), Colonel Sykes gives the following account of the process by which the moth of the Kolisurra silk-worm liberates itself from confinement. “It discharges from its mouth a liquor, which dissolves or loosens that part of the cocoon adjoining to the cord which attaches it to the branch, causing a hole, and admitting of the passage of the moth. The solvent property of this liquid is very remarkable; for that part of the cocoon, against which it is directed, although previously as hard as a piece of wood, becomes soft and pervious as wetted brown paper.” In the seventh volume of the Linnæan Transactions, is an account by Dr. Roxburgh of the Tusseh silk-worm. Both species are natives of Bengal. The cocoons require to be immersed in cold water before the silk can be obtained from them. In the latter species it is too delicate to be wound from the cocoons, and is therefore spun like cotton. Thus manufactured it is so durable, that the life of one person is seldom sufficient to wear out a garment made of it, and the same piece descends from mother to daughter. (See Chap. VIII. of this Part.) CHAPTER III. HISTORY OF THE SILK MANUFACTURE FROM THE THIRD TO THE SIXTH CENTURY. SPINNING, DYEING, AND WEAVING.--HIGH DEGREE OF EXCELLENCE ATTAINED IN THESE ARTS. Fourth century--Curious account of silk found in the Edict of Diocletian--Extravagance of the Consul Furius Placidus--Transparent silk shifts--Ausonius describes silk as the produce of trees--Quintus Aur Symmachus, and Claudian’s testimony of silk and golden textures--Their extraordinary beauty--Pisander’s description--Periplus Maris Erythræi--Dido of Sidon. Mention of silk in the laws of Manu--Rufus Festus Avinus--Silk shawls--Marciannus Capella--Inscription by M. N. Proculus, silk manufacturer--Extraordinary spiders’ webs--Bombyces compared to spiders--Wild silk-worms of Tsouen--Kien and Tiao-Kien--M. Bertin’s account--Further remarks on wild silk-worms. Christian authors of the fourth century--Arnobius--Gregorius Nazienzenus--Basil--Illustration of the doctrine of the resurrection--Ambrose--Georgius Pisida--Macarius--Jerome--Chrysostom--Heliodorus--Salmasius--Extraordinary beauty of the silk and golden textures described by these authors--Their invectives against Christians wearing silk. Mention of silk by Christian authors in the fifth century--Prudentius--Palladius--Theodosian Code--Appollinaris Sidonius--Alcimus Avitus. Sixth century--Boethius. (Manufactures of Tyre and Sidon--Purple--Its great durability--Incredible value of purple stuffs found in the treasury of the King of Persia.) FOURTH CENTURY.