442 



HOMES WITHOUT HANDS. 



surface, and are quite inconspicuous. On examination, these 

 prominences are seen to be composed of sti£f silken threads, 

 which converge to a point, precisely like those which guard .the 

 entrance of the emperor moth's cocoon, so that any inhabitant 

 can crawl out, but no enemy can crawl in. 



This nest, like the preceding, may be seen in the museum at 

 Oxford. 



SMALL ETIMINE MOTH. 



There is a very pretty, very interesting, and very destructive 

 insect, called by entomologists the Small Ekmine Moth {Yjoono- 

 mejda padella), which is very plentiful in this country, and by 

 gardeners is thought to be much too plentiful. It can easily be 

 recognised by its long narrow wings, the upper pair of which are 

 soft silvery, or satiny white, spotted with black, and the lower 

 pair dark brown. The expanse of the spread wings is about 

 three quarters of an inch. 



In its winged and pupal states the insect is perfectly harmless, 

 but in its larval condition it becomes a terrible pest. Most cater- 

 pillars wage war singly on the foliage, and though they do much 

 damage, their ravages are conducted in a desultory manner. The 

 Small Ermines, however, band themselves together in hosts, 



