236 :mr. a. j. t. jaxse 



when this information is wanting. Some creosote or 

 carbolic acid sprinkled on the top layer of sawdust will 

 add still more to the preservation of the contents of the 

 tin, but in order to prevent the formation of mould it is 

 a good plan to keep the tin open for some time, and in 

 moist climates to take special precautions to secure the 

 quickest drying. I find that for quick drying nothing 

 answers better than placing the open box filled with 

 beetles in a still bigger box in which a few ounces of 

 well dried calcium chloride has been placed. This will 

 absorb all the moisture inside the two boxes. By heat- 

 ing the calcium chloride afterwards this moisture will be 

 driven out again, making it ready for use once more. 



If it is found necessary to keep the specimens separate 

 they may be packed in a small piece of tissue paper with 

 the ends slightly moistened and turned round by twisting 

 between finger and thumb. I also find that little rolls 

 made of paper, with one or a few specimens inside, 

 tied up with a cross-thread will make neat packets which 

 allow of ventilation and quick drying; moreover they 

 can stand handling very Avell, even when the specimens 

 are quite dry. To partly close up the ends of the rolls 

 I use thread and needle, pass the needle through the 

 paper at both ends and then tie its ends crosswise. 

 Triangular envelopes, such as are used for Lepidoptera. 

 and cottonwool also, should not be used for beetles, ^^ery 

 small beetles of say 5 mm. and less, should be glued on to 

 bristol board. Get some good gum arable and with a fine 

 brush place a little in a line on the cardboard. Now, 

 damping another brush, pick up with this your small 

 eoleoptera, one by one and arrange them next to each 

 other on the gum. Tlie smallest quantity of gum should 

 be used, so that only the feet and abdomen on the under- 

 side c(mie in contact with the gum, as otherwise it will 

 be more difficult to remove tlie gum before mounting the 

 specimens. 



