228 THE CLOTHES MOTH. 



hairs till the little creature had made a fabric of 

 some thickness, and this it went on to extend till 

 it was large enough to cover its body, which (as 

 is usual with caterpillars) it employed as a model 

 and measure for regulating its operations. The 

 chamber was ultimately finished by a fine and 

 closely woven tapestry of silk. When the cater- 

 pillar increases in length it takes care to add to 

 the length of its house by working in fresh hairs at 

 either end ; and if it be shifted to furs or feathers 

 of different colours it may be made to construct a 

 parti-coloured tissue like a Scotch plaid. But 

 the grub increases in thickness as well as in 

 length, so that its first house becoming too narrow, 

 it must either enlarge it or build a new one. It 

 prefers enlarging the premises, and sets to work- 

 precisely as we should do, slitting the case on the 

 two opposite sides and then adroitly inserting 

 between them two pieces of the requisite size. 

 When the structure is finished, the insect deems 

 itself secure to feed upon the fur within its reach, 

 provided it is dry and free from grease, which the 

 grub will not touch." 



This account shows that the moth -grub can 



