22 PACKINC4 AND TRANSPORTATION. 



PACKING AND TRANSPORTATION. 



As no Entomologist is able to collect even in all parts of his own fatherland, 

 let alone in foreign parts, he is obliged to get examples from other localities by 

 exchanging duplicate examples of those found in his own neighborhood, and 

 by purchasing ; and, inasmuch as one fine, perfect specimen is worth any 

 number of damaged or defective ones, it is requisite to pay particular atten- 

 tion to the packing for transportation. 



We will begin first with the day butterflies (Rhopaloceres) ; these may be 

 packed singly in papers without expanding; in using this method the butter- 

 fly should have the wings folded back, in the position that they occupy when 

 at rest, and should then be put in a paper folded in a three cornered envelope ;* 

 the locality and date of capture may be written on this envelope with lead 

 pencil before putting the specimen in it; the paper used should be soft, not 

 too stiff or heavy, and care should be taken, in placing the butterfly in, that 

 its wings or feelers (antennae) do not get caught in the folds of the paper, and 

 consequently broken or scratched. The papers containing the butterflies may 

 then be put in a flat segar-box as many as it will hold; that is, they maybe 

 placed in the box carefully until it is a little over full, so that in closing the 

 lid down gently it will press them down and by that means they will not 

 shuffle about loosely in the box, but care should be taken that it be not, on 

 the contrary, too full, lest the pressure in closing the box might break them ; 

 keep a just medium ; before fastening the lid down put in a little gum- 

 camphor, in fine pieces or dust, (a large lump would damage the specimens) 

 to keep vermin away until your box reaches its destination, and thereby 

 probably save the contents from destruction ; in the absence of camphor, 

 tobacco dust, wild sage or other strong-smelling herbs will do as a substitute. 



After the lid is down, it should be secured by having strong paper strips 

 pasted over the edges all around, and if the side and bottom edges are also 

 pasted over with paper it will be an improvement in the way of keeping the 

 contents safe from the access of vermin ; if the paper used be such as is im- 

 pervious to damp, so much the better, common boiled flour paste is better than 

 glue or gum. Butterflies done up in this way need no further packing, and 

 may be sent by mail to any part of the United States or possessions, at letter 

 rates of postage, 3 cents per oz. or fraction thereof. If the box be not pasted 

 shut, but only tied tight with strong twine, and does not exceed 12 oz. in 

 weight, it will go at sample parcel rates, which is much cheaper, being only 

 2 cents for every 2 oz. or fraction thereof, but the latter has the disadvantage 

 of being opened by the Post Office officials in the course of their duty, and as 

 these gentlemen and ladies are not all naturalists, or acquainted with the 

 mode of handling such objects, damage is sometimes unavoidable; it is 

 best if the specimens are many and valuable to have the boxes pasted shut, 

 even if the postage is higher. I certainly always would prefer that plan. 

 For the address you must paste a clean piece of yellow or white paper on the 

 lid, and write on it always the full address, thus : 



Name, 



No. of Post Oflice box, or street, as the case may be, 

 City or town, 



County, Shire or Province, 



State, Kingdom or Empire, 



Country. 

 * See Plate 2, C 1, C 2. 



