PRESERVE LEPIDOPTEROUS INSECTS. 45 



the correct size may be obtained from Watkins & Doncaster, 

 36 Strand, London, at a small cost. Boxes three inches in 

 diameter are required tor the Mason fruit jars recommended 

 as killing-bottles. 



Do not place too many moths at a time in the killing- 

 bottle, as the bigger moths especially soon damage the 

 others. 1 prefer to change them over to the other bottle 

 every time three or four are in it, as soon as they do not move 

 any more. It is during their movement that they do most 

 damage. It is also a good plan to keep separate bottles for 

 the smaller things. Keej) the moths in the bottles for about 

 six hours, they are sure to be dead by that time and they will 

 not have stiffened. 



Great care should l)e taken in carrying the moths home 

 when still in the bottles, as the movement will rub the wings 

 a good deal. It* you cannot pin them on the spot and have 

 to go a good distance with them, it is a good plan to take a 

 killing-box and place a thin layer of cotton wool in it. Place 

 the moths on this so that they do not come in contact with 

 each other. In this way I have otten transported them over 

 a distance of ten miles in a motor car without any injury. 

 The time of tlie night is not immaterial, though no fixed 

 rules can ])e laid down as to what hours are the best. It has 

 often happened to me that from night-fall on till eleven 

 o'clock I have had only moderate success, and then, just as 

 I decided to give up, fresh specimens came and kept me 

 busy till dawn. One thing is certain, quite different species 

 are captured, as a rule, during the small hours from what 

 are obtained before midnioht. Sometimes hardlv anvthino- 

 appears for three or four hours and then comes ji rush 

 sufficient to keep one going even if possessed of four hands. 

 So never des|)aii-, but keep awake as long as you can, when 

 the weather conditions are favourable. 



Preparing the Insects at Home. 

 In addition to the apparatus already described, a few more 

 additional requirements are necessary. Several of these 

 can be bought in this country or, at any rate, in Europe ; 



