LEPIDOPTERA. 281 



the length of their case ; and so they never split up more than 

 half the length of the case at the same time, which has enough 

 stuff left in it to keep it together while this opening is being 

 filled up." 



The wools of our stuffs furnish the moths not only with clothing, 

 but also with food. Their excrements are little grains, which are 

 the same colour as the wool they have eaten. 



When they are full grown, and the time approaches for their 

 metamorphosis, the larvae abandon their food, and establish them- 

 selves in the angles of the walls. They creep up to the ceilings 

 and suspend themselves to them by one extremity of their tube. 

 The two ends of the tube are now closed by a 

 silken tissue (Fig. 296). The larva thus enclosed 

 very soon changes its form ; it becomes a chry- 

 salis ; then at the end of about three weeks it is 

 set free as a moth. 



The Fur or Skin moth works like the carpet 

 moth ; it makes itself a case of the same form, and Fig. 296.-case of the 



_^ 1 . , . Moth attached to a piece 



constructs it in the same manner. Only in this of cioth. 



case its covering is made of a sort of felt resembling that of 

 which our hats are made. 



While the Carpet moth only detaches from the various stuffs 

 the wool it requires for clothing and nourishment, the Fur moth 

 causes much more considerable and more rapid damage. It cuts 

 off all the hairs which are in its way right down to the skin ; it 

 seems as if it took a delight in cutting them off. That which is 

 necessary for its wants is nothing in comparison to the great quan- 

 tities of hair one sees fall off a skin on which it has established 

 itself, when it is shaken. As it advances it cuts more thoroughly 

 than a razor could all the hairs which are in its way. t , 



The Hair moth (Fig. 297), shows itself in great 



numbers in the perfect state, from the end of April 



till the beginning of June. They appear again in Fi s- 297.-Hair Moth 



September, and generally stay behind cabinets and other pieces of 



furniture. 



The caterpillar, which is cylindrical, white, destitute of hair, 

 and striped with brown, lives principally in the hair with 

 which furniture is stuffed, and sometimes in hair mattresses. 



