112 ON SHEEP'S WOOL. 



the wool on the lower part of the sides, upon the 

 chest, belly and legs are of an inferior quality to the 

 wool on the neck, withers, back, and on the upper 

 sides of the body, 8tc. in regard to other properties 

 than its fineness : manufacturers may acquire this in- 

 formation by making experiments on these different 

 wools. 



Q. What insects are most injurious to wool ? 



A. They are moths.* This name is given to the 

 little caterpillars produced by butterflies, which are 

 also called moths : to distinguish them from other 

 insects of the same name, they are called common 

 moths : most people take moth caterpillars for 

 worms, although they have legs like other caterpil- 

 lars, whilst the worms have none. The butterfly 

 moths are found in houses, where there is woolen 

 furniture, or in stores of wool. They are nearly 

 three lines long, and have a yellow, shining colour. 

 They are seen fluttering about, from the latter end of 

 April to the beginning of October ; a little sooner or 

 later, according to the warmth of the season. Dur- 

 ing the whole of this time, the winged moth lays his 

 little eggs upon the wool, which can with difficulty 

 be seen : it is from these eggs, the worms, which 

 eat the wool, are produced. 



Q. At what season do these caterpillars spoil the 

 wool the most ? 



A. The winged moth hatches in the months of Oc- 

 tober, November, and December. They are very 

 small, and grow but little at this season, and are even 



* Tinea Phalsena, L. 



