Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-08-15
FOND OF LITERATURE.
Little Worms Which Gain an Exist
ence From Time. Worn Pages.
AN ALLEGHENY LADY'S TREASURE
She las Two of the Insects Corralled in a
Copy of the rsalms.
THEIR LIFE AND HABITS DESCRIBED

Miss Margaret Tutell, of 1853 Buena Vista
street, Allegheny, sheds more light on the
uncommon book worm. For months she
has been studying the life and health OF
these little worker and finds that their
evolution is similar to that of all small
worms.
Miss Tutell was found at her home last
night and she took great pleasure IN dis
cussing the little insects Since a child she
has made study of insects, and says that
the book worm has furnished her more
pleasure in study. than any insect into the
life of which she has probed. ''The book
worm," said she, 'is not unlike
the ordinary maggot In color it is white,
even transparent. Its head is not like most
worms. but is sharp and pointed. 1t is
about q of an inch in length. In one way
it differs greatly from the maggot. The
book worm possesses the power to swell out
or grow fat. 1t is developed in tiny she'll,
which it sheds when it is ready to begin
life's destructive work"
The Worm a Lover OF Old Books.
In the Tutell library are some rare old
books. Among the number are four volumes
which have been the prey of the little worm.
They are old-style books and bear dates of
1926 1927, 1882 and 1740. The are bound in
the old-fashioned leather binding and the
that age. These old souvenirs were
displayed by Miss Tutell. "Rare old books
are these" said she, "but the little ami
mails which are now making such Inroads
through them are as rare. 1 have had them
stored away in dark corner Of the library
and had not looked at them for several
years until short time ago. You
may imagine my surprise when I
discovered that they had been eaten
in many places. In fact they have been
perforated. 1 had never seen the book
worm before, bu. had read so much about
them that they seemed familiar to me-. "
Holding up one of the books she said: "See
how the leather and pasteboard coverings
have been eaten through and through.
Here you will notice their little borings.
Its Roadways Are Uniform.
''The roads or paths are connected one with
the other in a manner that looks as though
the little insect had an original plan. By
these roadways he can follow the worms
entrance into the book. See it has COM
menced on the outside of the cover and is
boring into the pages. 1t is queer to me
that it did not begin its work
on the pages themselves and thus
relieving itself of the aduous task of eat
ing a path through the hard leather. In
every instance, however, 1 find that the
worm has taken this harder route. The
the taste of this old style leather binding.
Starting at the tiny hole the worm
makes as it works its way through
the cover and into the leaves of the
book an interesting picture is shown.
While the insect is not so very rapid in its
work it is an Industrious thing. 1t is ever
eating leisurely. Its course is
direct for some distance and suddenly a
number OF little pathways are run out in
every direction. Each of these routes are
OF uniform size and seemed to have been
tremly particular as to what kind of paper
they diet upon.
They Disdain Newspapers as Food.
'sTo demonstrate this about week ago L
took several pieces of newspaper and cut
them to the size of page in one of the
books which the insects are working at I
put them in the books and left them there
for several days, but the little destroyers
crawled past the newspaper sheets and
made their meal on the time worn pages of |
the book.
''This volume was printed in 1926, and is
an edition of the Psalms of David. 1t is |
evidently the sweetest morsel the worms
,an find, for they have been more energetic |
in destroying it." She held up the book
and it was bored through aud through. |
Whole pages were eaten off, while others |
we're cut into many shapes. In each case |
The work was systematically done.
''There were two worms in this book"
said Miss Tutell, "but have not been able |
20 see the worms since last Sunday. 1 |
would trv to get them out to show them to |
you, but the light may kill them I want |
% preserve the insects until the fall meet
ng of the Microscopical Society and then
,ut them on exhibition. 1 think it will be
quite treat to the members.
The Insect Is Growing Extinct
''The insect is rapidly growing extinct.
This is because the old style paper and
how you q shell if you will promise not to
breathe while you look at it. 1t is so frail
hat the slightest air would carry it away"
The shell was placed on the black cover
ng of book, and by the aid of micro
cope one was enabled to examine it. 1t is
,ure white and about three-eighths of an
nch in length. Either end of the shell
omes to a sharp point, and it is ribbed
imilar to the coverings of other insects.
Miss Tutell prizes this little speck more
han a miser his gold, and when she had
xhibited it she put it back into plush
ined box and locked the lid
"'Some New York scientists have said."
emarked Miss Tutell, "that it was the
must which gathers on old books that at
racts the worm. / cannot agree with them.
'hese volumes are all free from any musty
NELL and the only reason the worms attack
hem is that they love the paper and leather
findings peculiar to the earlier ages. One
+ two of my books are trile musty. They
iere within easy reach OF the worms, but
hey did not attack them. I think the in
ects must be PresbyterIans from the man
er in which they digest the psalms"