Silk is a continuous filament fibre consisting of fibroin protein secreted from two salivary glands in the head of each larva and a gum called sericin which cements the two filaments together. Silk must be reeled off the cocoon quickly before the pupa begins to rot and taint the thread with unpleasant smells. The cocoon is then softened in hot water to remove the sericin, which frees the silk filament ends for reeling or filature.  Single filaments are drawn from cocoons in water bowls and combined to form yarn. This yarn is drawn under tension through several guides and eventually wound onto reels. The yarn is dried, packed according to quality and is now raw silk ready for marketing. The worn and withered body of what was intended to become the wondrous flying creature slips silently away.