86 ON THE HABITATIONS AND 



appropriately terms " Teignet dfourreau a manteau"* 

 A remarkable peculiarity of these coverings is, that 

 instead of being fabricated of a firm and close texture, 

 they are composed of imbricated, transparent scales, 

 like those of a fish. 



The dwellings of the larvae above described might, 

 with more propriety, be rather termed clothing than 

 houses, as they fit the animal like a vestment. This 

 is more especially the case with some of the Tinea, 

 (or Clothes Moths,) which cover themselves with a 

 coat of the very same materials as mankind, of wool 

 or hair curiously interwoven together. Dr Paley 

 asserts, that " the human animal is the only one 

 which is naked, and the only one which can clothe 

 itself."f These little creatures, like man, are born 

 naked ; and, like man, are capable of covering them- 

 selves, thus contradicting the Doctor's theory. Nay, 

 these larvae, which man in general looks upon with 

 contempt, are endowed with ingenuity in some respects 

 superior to his own ; for the moment they have 

 inhaled the breath of life, they prepare to cover 

 themselves, and this they effect in a manner more 

 consonant to their condition, than the dress of savage 

 man is to his state. The shape of the habiliments of 

 larvae consists usually of a cylindrical tube, open at 

 both ends. These are woven from wool or hair, 

 ingeniously cut down by the larva of the Tinea, which 

 is compactly incorporated with silk drawn from their 



* REAUMUR, Hi. 206. 



f Natural Theology, p. 230, 8vo. edition. 



