PLATE XXX. FIG. 3.
Cloth-Worm, or Moth
THIS pretty Insect is the Tinea Argentea,
or Cloaths-Moth in its Worm-State, tho'
called the Book-Worm by Dr. HOOKE, from his having often seen it running a-
mongst Books and Papers. It is of a white-shining Silver or Pearl-Colour, is commonly
found lurking in Holes or Crannies, and whenever it is disturbed, scuds away very nimbly
to seek some other Hiding-Place.
The Head-Part to the naked Eye appears with a blunt End, with a Body growing smal-
ler and smaller, and tapering towards the Tail ; but when the Microscope is employed,
the little blunt Head of this Insect is found furnished on either side with a Cluster of
pearled Eyes ; though the Pearls are sewer than in other Insects whose Eyes are thus con-
structed. Each Eye is surrounded with a Row of small Hairs, much like the Cilia or
Hairs of the Eyelids, and perhaps may serve for the same purpose : It has two long strait
Horns, A A, tapering towards the Top, most curiously jointed, with Rings or Circles of
Hairs issuing from and encompassing each Joint, and several larger Bristles interspersed here
and there amongst them. Besides these, it has also two shorter Horns or Feelers B B,
jointed and incircled with Hairs like the former, but without any Bristles, and ending with
blunted Points.
The conical Body of this Creature consists of fourteen several Shells or Shields, folding
over each other like jointed Pieces of Armour, and covering the whole Body ; and each of
these is again tiled over, as it were, with a Multitude of thin transparent Scales, which,
from the great Number of their reflecting Surfaces, make the whole Animal appear of a
Pearl-Colour. Its Sides are armed with many long, sharp and strong Bristles. From the
hinder Part three Tails proceed, C C C, resembling in all respects, the two longer Horns
growing from the Head.
Notwithstanding the Supposition of our Author, that this Creature seeds upon Papers
and the Covers of Books, and makes the Holes that are oftentimes found therein, Mr.
ALBIN asserts it to be the very Animal that eats Cloths or Stuffs made of Woollen ; and
says, it is produced from a small grey speckled Moth, that flies about in the Night, creeps
in among woollen Things, and there lays her Eggs ; which after a time are hatched by the
natural Heat of the Woollen, and the little Brood seed thereon till they change into flying
Moths like their Parent.
As for the Holes in Books and Papers, they are probably made by the same little
nimble minute Insect which eats Holes of a like Size and Form in Picture-Frames, Chair-
Frames, and other Things made of Wood, and which, from its Resemblance in Shape
and Bigness, is called the little Wood-Louse.
