PKACTICAL HINTS. 19 



think, that given in Tin- Insrct I l/intcr's ('omjianlini, p. 81. It is made 

 as follows : — " Dissolve about a di-achm of isinglass in half a pint of 

 boiling water. Let the solution stand until cold ; then remove the 

 clear jelly. Warm this and mix it with the best zinc wliite (oxide of 

 zinc) and an additional half-pint of water, until you have a paint of 

 the consistence of good cream ; stir in, until perfectly mixed, an 

 almost imperceptible amount of ultramarine blue, and an addition of 

 two grains of powdered white arsenic. This paint is whiter than 

 paper, besides, it prevents the diffusion of grease." I used to keep 

 my insects in store-boxes painted with this, and found it very satis- 

 factory. — (Major) R. B. Robertson, Wellington Court, Cheltenham. 

 April, ISdG. 



I paint my drawers instead of, and to avoid the, to me, difticulties 

 of re-papering. The inodns ojirranili is simple in the extreme. I buy 

 small bottles of " Chinese White," from Reeves and Son, colourmen, 

 Cheapside, mix with plain water, in a saucer, to the consistency of 

 thin cream, give two or three rubs with a stick of Indian ink, to take 

 off the dead whiteness, and then paint the drawers (having first 

 cleaned them) with a large flat water brush, such as is used in offices 

 to damp press copy letter-books ; take up any surplus litjuid with a 

 piece of blotting-paper, and then dry the drawers carefully by the 

 tire. The use of gum gives a glazed appearance, which I deem 

 unsatisfactory and therefore avoid. — T. W. Hall, F.E S., Stanhope, 

 The Crescent, Croydon. Ajiril, 1896. 



The object of my previous note (A'»^. /(Vr., vii., p. 277) is to get a paint 

 which can be used over paper. My object is twofold : (1) To get a surface 

 on which pencil lines can be ruled and easily got rid of when required ; 

 the paint I have been using does this admirably. (2) To discourage 

 mites and mould without injury to the insects. It is here that I fear 

 my paint, for some reason, fails. Though I have no mould and can 

 tind no traces of mites, my insects (which do not touch the bottom of 

 the drawer) are apt to get fringed, and to have a worn appearance. 

 Of course, not all, or even most, but still an appreciable percentage, 

 Tnjiihai'na jiinbria being an especial victim. The drawers are kept well 

 supplied with naphthaline. Is it safe to dip insects in corrosive subli- 

 mate dissolved in alcohol, as recommended by Mr. Chope {Kntovi., 

 xxviii., p. 388) ? and what Avould be its effect on the fringes of the 

 insects thus dipped?— p]. F. Studd, M.A., B.C.L., F.E.S., Oxton, 

 Exeter. April 13th, 1896. 



There is no doubt that the advice given by Mr. Chope (A'«^oh/., 

 xxviii., p. 338), and referred to by Mr. Studd, is about as bad as can 

 be offered. I remember well, as a youngster, dipping insects in cor- 

 rosive sublimate dissolved in alcohol, with a most marvellous and 

 unlooked for result, the specimens becoming covered, as Mr. Richard- 

 son pomts out,* with a white coating, which entirely spoilt them. 

 The use of corrosive sublimate should be always carried out with 

 great care, and the weakness of the solution should be, as JNIr. 

 Richardson further explains, such that no possible deposit can be 

 detected after the evaporation of the fluid. The off'-hand advice of 

 one beginner to another (or to older hands, who think that the said 

 beginner is an authority on such matters), often results in working 

 considerable injury to the specimens of those who profit by such 

 crude and undigested information. — J. W. Tutt. 

 * Mr. Kichaixlson's note has unfortunately been crowded out of this issue.— Ed. 



