DORSET CLOTHES-MOTHS AND THEIR HABITS. 149 



those harmless little brown moths of the genus Depressaria that 

 so often take refuge in our houses in the winter. 



The caterpillars, the real culprits, are often only betrayed by a 

 loose feather, or bit of fur, or an irregular rising on the surface of 

 a garment. 



Turpentine, naphthaline, benzine, insect powder, and various 

 compounds with long fancy names are very effective when applied 

 of sufficient strength, the first being perhaps the most useful, and a 

 sheet of paper wetted with turpentine and put in a drawer over 

 furs will make them safe for a considerable time : but it is mucli 

 more difficult to kill the larvae in this way than to keep the moths 

 at a distance, so that it is well to make sure that there are no 

 living larvae in the articles in the drawer before it is covered up. 



I believe myself that there is no preventive equal to that of 

 occasionally wearing or brushing or shaking or beating anything 

 liable to moths' attack, for the bodies of the larvae are very 

 delicate and they are easily killed by such slight compressions and 

 blows as they would receive in this way. By sprinkling on it one 

 of the substances I have mentioned, and shutting it up in a tightly 

 fitting box for a week or two, any article may be cleared of its 

 insect pests. I may mention that I do not recommend camphor as 

 I doubt its killing powers, though insects do not like it. 



The eggs of moths are difficult to destroy in this way and too 

 small to be easily seen, so that the only satisfactory plan is to make 

 sure that one of the above >substances is present in sufficient 

 strength to kill the larvae as soon as they hatch. 



A great deal more might be said upon this subject, but I am 

 perhaps entering too much on the domain of the housewife, and 

 time also presses. I therefore end with a hope that my remarks 

 may be of some practical use, even if it be only the sparing of the 

 life of the innocent Depressaria by my hearers. 



