Page 214 - Third Book of Reading Lessons

READING LESSONS. 213
Co STITUTEs, v., rms or makes ;- om (L.) constituo,-con, and statuo, I make, place, or appoint.
E VEL10P, v., to cover round, to roll in or involve. F. envelopper; L. involvo,-in, and volvo, I roll or ld.
CHRYSALIS (krls'-), n., the primary visible change of any species of worm to the y state. L. chrysalis, a worm, of which comes the •
butter y, om (G.) chrysos, gold,-in allusion to the colour of sev-
eral of that species.
EMERGE', v., to come forth, to rise out of (anything in which it is cov­ ered). See" Emergency," p. 158.
Gw'nNous, a., tenacious, viscid, gluey. F. glntineux, from (L.) glu­ ten, glue, and this om (G.) glia, any adhesive substance.
BRoCADE1, n., silk or satin striped with gold or silver. S. brocado; F. brocard, om broche, the-needle or bodkin used in embroidery.
VEL1VET, n., silk with soft, short fur upon it. I. velluto, om villo, woolliness.
0LI1MATE, n., a term applied to a region di ering in temperature om another. F. climat, om (G.) klima, the bending of the heav­ ens, om klino, I bend.
For" Lustre," seep. 103; and" Transparent,"p. 142.
1. SILK is the production of a caterpillar, and con­ stitutes the covering in which it envelops itself ,vhen i changes om the larva or disguised state, to that of the chrysalis. From the latter inanimate condi­ tion it emerges as a moth, and having laid its eggs, it soon dies.
2. The cocoon, or web of the silk-worm, is an oval ball of silk, which it has spun out of a substance se­ j creted in its own body. The shades of the silk vary om the palest straw colour to deep yellow. In a state of nature the silk-worms rm their cocoons 1 upon the mulberry-tree itself, where they shine like golden uits amidst the leaves: but the colder cli­ mates of Europe will not allow of their being reared in the open air. They are, in consequence, kept in warm, but airy rooms, and d with mulberry-leaves till they are lly grown. They change their skin several times while they are in the caterpillar state; at length they become so full of the silky matter, that Il it gives them a yellowish tinge: they then cease to eat. At this indication of their approaching change,