LEPIDOI'TEROUS INSECTS 241 



To prevent introduction of pests into the collection, I 

 find it best to place the insects, as they come from the 

 boards, directly into special boxes, and before closing 

 the boxes to ponr in a small quantity of carbon bisul- 

 phide; when fitting tight, the box will hold the fumes for 

 a sufiiciently long time to kill any living thing that may 

 have been introduced with the specimens. I find this 

 practice the '• A.B.C." of keeping collections free from 

 pests 



Insect Boxes. 



When a number of insects have thus accumulated, they 

 may be assorted and put into their place in the per- 

 manent boxes or drawers. In a way the boxes, in w^iich 

 the insects are finally placed, are the most important re- 

 quirements of the entomologist. 



Unfortunately, well-made boxes are very expensive, 

 especially in South Africa where I doubt whether a good 

 one can be obtained under fifteen shillings. If it is re- 

 membered that a hundred boxes do not go a very long 

 way when a general collection is made, I think it is as 

 well to consider from the very outset whether it is not 

 better to confine oneself to one group of insects, instead 

 of taking every insect coming to hand. It is a good plan 

 to begin T\ath as many boxes as one can aff'ord, other 

 wise the continual re-arranging takes up a lot of time^ 

 and never does the specimens any good. One should 

 have at least about fifty boxes ready if it is the intention 

 to continue collecting for some years. There are two 

 types of boxes, the store tox and the insect dratver. The 

 first is a box with a close fitting lid, usually without a 

 glass cover, made of cardboard or wood. The latter is 

 better, I think, if good wood is selected, as it is rather 

 difficult to make it of cardboard in such a way as to ren- 

 der it dustand insect-proof, two of the first essentials 

 of a good insect box. The only cardboard box known to 

 me as fulfilling these requirements is the '' Deyrolle,'* 

 obtainable from Heynes Mathew in Cape ToAvn at seven 

 shillings for the size 154^ by 10 inches. I do not think 



