144 DORSET CLOTHES-MOTHS AND THEIR HABITS. 



in the way of an intermediate form the colour is usually very 

 constant within certain limits in each form. 



This moth is very uncertain in the time of its emergence from 

 the pupa, and I do not think that Stainton is far wrong in giving 

 February to November as the period during which it may be 

 found. Meyrick gives two distinct broods, the first in June and 

 July, the second in September and October, but in thus limiting 

 it, I think he is mistaken, though no doubt there are two or more 

 broods in the course of the year. The eggs, like those of other 

 clothes-moths of this group, are laid loosely and not attached to 

 the food. 



On hatching, the little larva immediately sets to work to 

 construct itself a case by spinning together with silk the bits of 

 its food, wool, hair, &c., which it has bitten off for the purpose. 

 The case is rather flat and about three times as long as broad, of a 

 somewhat oval shape, rather roughly made. As it grows it 

 enlarges this case to suit its requirements, by slitting it down the 

 edges and putting on a border all round each side, and then 

 joining together the two enlarged sides. It does its work gradually 

 however and not all at once, so that one cannot perceive that the 

 case is cut open. If the larva is furnished successively with wools 

 of different colours it will make a most beautiful little case with the. 

 rings of colour arranged according to the fancy of its feeder, 

 and it is so common that anyone who likes can try the experi- 

 ment. It seems to eat carpet of almost any colour without 

 ill effects, though I have been told that the brown dye of seal-skin 

 was a preventive against its ravages. As Mrs. Richardson had a 

 muff, of which it ate the lining and did not touch the seal-skin, this 

 would appear to be a fact. If it gets amongst fur, it generally 

 stays close to the skin as indeed do all these little pests, and bites 

 off the hairs close to their roots, so that until one shakes the fur or 

 takes hold of the hair and finds that it conies away, one has no 

 idea that it has been attacked. They also eat the skin itself. , 



When the larva is full-fed it spins up the mouth of its case and 

 turns to a chrysalis or pupa, but before doing this it sometimes 



