28 



Most people could easily spare these voracious little worms hairs enough to serve as 

 food and afford material for the construction of their paltry cases, but that restless spirit 

 that ever urges on all beings endowed with life and motion, never forsakes the larva of 

 the clothes moth. He will not drag his heavy case over rough hairs and wool, so he cuts 

 his way through, and the more he travels the more mischief he does. 



In process of time the larva or caterpillar changes into the pupa or chrysalis, in 

 which state it is to all appearance dead. The chrysalis is considerably curved, with the 

 head smooth and rounded. The long horns or antennae, together with the hind legs, are 

 folded along the breast. At first the chrysalis is whitish, but just before the advent of 

 the moth it becomes of a yellowish varnish colour. 



When the moth is about to emerge from the chrysalis the skin of the latter splits 

 open on the back, and the perfect insect glides out, and so quickly is the operation per- 

 formed, that the observer must look sharply to detect the different steps. 



Our little Tinea flavifrontella, whose development we have now traced from the egg, 

 proves itself true to the iastinct which has been implanted in the species, and earns the 

 name of a " household pest." 



There are several allied species which have much the same habits, except that they 

 do not construct cases ; they eat carpets, grain and natural history specimens. 



Remedies. — Early in May woollens and furs should be carefully dusted, shaken and 

 beaten. Powdered black pepper, camphor, tobacco leaves, red cedar, and paper sprinkled 

 with turpentine, have all been used to repel this moth. The cloth-lining of carriages can 

 Ibe secured forever from the attacks of this insect by being sponged over with a solution 

 of corrosive sublimate in alcohol. Benzine, carbolic acid, and carbolic preparations are 

 certain destrgyers and preventives of these moths. 



The Mosquito {Culex Pipiens ?). 



Fig- 22. We are sure all our readers will recognize our common 



foe in the figure, and will retain a lively recollection of its 

 peculiarities. As it is some time since we have listened to 

 their cheery music we may be in a position to examine im- 

 partially their beauties and admire those marvels of struc- 

 ture which abound in the body of a mosquito in all its stages. 



It may not be out of place here to give one of the stories 

 which is supposed to settle the derivation of the word Mos- 

 quito. It was given by some coloured person in the South: 

 " De white man he come, he settle down, he grow de corn 

 and cotton, den come de little fly — cry golly 1 How he bite ! 

 Whoop ! whoop ! White man slap him face and stamp like 

 mad. He say ' must-quit-oh.' He shout louder den ebber, 

 and whop de other side, ' must-quit-oh V Den behind, den 

 before, dis side, dat side, all de time ' must-quit-oh !' ' must-quit oh !"' This derivation 

 of the word is certainly ingenious, and has quite as much appearance of probability as 

 many other derivatives. 



Although at the head of this article we give the name of the mosquito as Culex pipi- 

 ens, yet we do so advisedly, and under certain restrictions. In England the term Culex 

 pipiens is appropriated to the insect popularly known as the gnat ; and the question for 

 decision is : Are the gnat and the mosquito one and the same insect, or are they perfectly 

 distinct 1 The two have the same appearance and blood-thirsty habits, and hold similar 

 positions in the affections of the English and American peoples respectively. The litera- 

 ture on this subject gives a very uncertain sound, no writer, as far as we have seen, giv- 

 ing the name of the Mosquito in entomological terms. It is said by many that it belongs 

 to the same genus Culex, but the specific name is invariably absent. The mosquito is 

 unknown in England generally, except where some one reports the supposed observance 

 or capture of one supposed to have been brought from some foreign country. The genus 

 includes a great many insects spread all over the world, and resembling each other con- 

 siderably ; while they are calculated, from their habits, to force themselves on the notice 

 of almost everyone. We must bear in mind that differences of climate and other circum- 



