ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 



PHILADELPHIA, PA., JANUARY, 1915. 



Hints on Packing Insects for Transportation. 

 Dried insects are exceedingly delicate and will not stand any 

 sudden jarring or the least knock, especially when pinned. 

 Such material has so often been received here at the Academy 

 of Natural Sciences in broken condition on account of improper 

 packing, that a few words on this subject will be appropriate. 

 NEVER SEND PINNED SPECIMENS IN A SINGLE 

 BOX WITHOUT SURROUNDING THE BOX WITH 

 S( )ME SPRINGY MATERIAL, such as dry sea grass, ex- 

 celsior, or cotton. The box should be light and strong with 

 the lid so made that it will not crush in. The pins bearing the 

 specimens should be firmly pushed in the cork, which should 

 be securely fastened or glued to the bottom or sides of the box. 

 The box should then be wrapped in soft paper to exclude any 

 dust that may arise from the packing. The packing should be 

 loosely wrapped around the box, say an inch or more in thick- 

 ness, and held intact by placing the whole in another box or by 

 o,- rapping it in heavy paper and securely tying with strong 

 string. DON'T pack the springy material so tightly that it is 

 useless as a preventive of jarring. Give attention to the cor- 

 ners and DON'T let them come in contact with the container, 

 be it box or paper. A chip basket with handle makes a good 

 container when a large box is sent by express. It is a good 

 plan to place a layer of raw cotton over the cork, but never 

 over the specimens. Heavy specimens that are liable to swing 

 on their pins should be braced by a stout pin against each edge 

 of the abdomen. Always remember if one specimen becomes 

 loose it ruins many, and that "one fine, faultless specimen is 

 worth no end of trash.''- -E. T. C., Ju. 



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