CLOTHES MOTHS AND OTHER TINE^E 91 



enter our dwellings are an open window and a brightly 

 shining lamp within, and then in suitable localities they 

 will enter in great numbers, and sacrifice themselves on 

 the funeral pyre. But these are, of course, but chance 

 visitors; and none of the Macros can be regarded as 

 permanent residents with us, propagating themselves as 

 the Micros do, generation after generation, without ever 

 visiting the outer world. 



The Micro-Lepidoptera are subdivided into some five 

 or six very distinct groups, to two only of which, how- 

 ever, our strictly household species belong; these two 

 are called the Pyrales and the Tinese. The former of 

 these, which are placed at the head of the Micros, are 

 amongst the largest of that group, most of them, indeed, 

 being (notwithstanding the names) larger than the 

 smallest of the Macros ; and they can usually be readily 

 recognised by their rather pointed wings and their long 

 slender bodies and legs. To this group we must refer 

 the household species known as the Meal Moths, and 

 the Tabby, or Grease Moth. The Tinese, which may be 

 regarded as some of the lowest of the order, are a very 

 large group of exceedingly varied and interesting habits, 

 and remarkable as containing the smallest of all Lepi- 

 doptera. They usually have long narrow wings, edged 

 with deep fringes ; and to them belong the true clothes 

 moths, together with several other insects that make 

 themselves obnoxious to the careful housekeeper in other 

 ways than by attacking furs and woollen garments. 



The Tineae, as containing the more familiar insects, 

 may profitably first occupy our attention. This section 

 numbers about seven hundred British species, and our 

 household pests belong to several genera scattered 

 throughout this host. The clothes moths, however, are 

 all members of one genus, Tinea, which contains about 



