DIRECT INJURIES FROM MOTHS. 55 



to place. So perfect is the work of destruction of 

 these minute animals, that a razor could not more 

 smoothly remove the fur from a hide, than they 

 perform the task with their mouths.* The Pack 

 Moth (Tinea sarcitella) generally feeds on wool, but 

 has been known also to feed on fur, and even hair, 

 when urged by necessity. To woollen clothes they 

 frequently do much mischief, more especially in 

 damp or ill-aired situations. It has been before 

 noticed that the Tinea mcllonella commits great havock 

 in our bee-hives. If, however, it cannot get at the 

 wax, it will feed on woollen cloth, leather, and even 

 paper. 



There is a caterpillar of a little moth, whose 

 species has not yet been named by naturalists, which 

 feeds on damp old books, and by whose depredations 

 many a volume of antiquity has been lost to the 

 world. The devastation of this minute destroyer is 

 described with much fancy in the following verses : 



THE BOOK WORM. 



Br DR PARNELL. 



COME hither, boy ; we'll hunt to-day 

 The Book Worm, ravening beast of prey, 

 Produced by parent earth, at odds, 

 As fame repoits it, with the gods. 

 Him frantic hunger wildly drives 

 Against a thousand authors' lives : 



* REAUMUR, iii. p. 59. 



