LEPIDOPTEROUS INSECTS 253 



If possible the generic and specific name should be ob- 

 tained, as this Avill be a key to any further information 

 recorded bearing on the specimen concerned^ and it will 

 enable the amateur to arrange the collection in a scien- 

 tific order. So as to know how much space should be 

 given to each group and the sequence of the genera, my 

 Checklist of S. African Lepidoptera Heterocera will be 

 found useful. 



The name of the family, genus and species is written 

 on special labels about 8 by 26 millimeter and fixed with 

 a very short pin into the drawer. The label with tho 

 family name is placed in the centre at the top of the 

 drawer, that with the generic name in the column just 

 above the insect, and that with the specific name either 

 just under the generic label or under the insect I pre- 

 fer tke first method, as it keeps the two names together., 

 as they should be. The insects are placed in the drawers 

 with the pinning forceps in at least two rows, the left 

 hand row for the males and the right hand row for the 

 females Eight to four species are placed in each column 

 according to the size of the insect and the number oi 

 specimens one wishes to collect of each .species. 



Anything connected with the insect, such as eggs, 

 larvae, pupce, etc., might be placed at the bottom of the 

 series of insects, unless one prefers to have special 

 drawers for life histories. 



Insect Pests. 



If good boxes are well supplied with naphthaline 

 and the before mentioned precautions are taken, 

 the collector need not fear insect pests as much 

 as some lead one to believe. If there are any pests in 

 the boxes, as may be noticed by the presence of brown 

 powder under the specimens, such boxes should be 

 treated at once with carbon bisulphide; and; after see 

 ing the pests killed, extra naphthaline should be placed 

 in the box in order that the fumes may be sufficiently 

 strong to keep living ones out. I doubt whether naph- 



