22 Journal of the Mitchell Society [^October 



The method of using this apparatus is simplicity itself. The first 

 step is setting the type. The type are selected one after another, 

 starting with the top line and placing the characters in order in the 

 bottom of the type box. It will be noticed that each character has 

 a groove called the "nick" on one face of the type to distinguish the 

 bottom of the character. If the characters are properly placed the 

 nicks on all of the characters are towards the lid of the box and can 

 be examined after each line is set to determine whether each char- 

 acter is in proper position or not. After all the characters are in 

 proper position the lid is lightly fastened by means of the four set 

 screws and a small block of wood with a true face is laid on the. face 

 of the type and they are brought into a flat surface by gently tapping 

 with a hammer. 



The next step is mixing the ink. The ink is squeezed from the 

 tube onto a glass plate (old negatives are good). Benzine is added 

 drop by drop and the two mixed together until the proper consistency 

 is obtained. Getting just the proper consistency is apparently a 

 matter of practice and experience. After the ink is properly mixed 

 it is rolled up on the compositor's roll in the form of a thin film. The 

 ink is taken from the roll by the type. 



The last step is printing the label. For printing pin labels I like 

 to have narrow strips of paper of just the proper width so that one 

 label can be trimmed with each cut of the shears, l^ot every label 

 printed by hand will be perfect but experience will soon teach the 

 proper consistency of the ink, the amount of ink to be applied to the 

 type, and the proper pressure to give the type on the paper. For 

 printing by hand the paper should be placed on two or three sheets 

 of blotting paper to counteract any unevenness in the face of the type. 



Lastly for the advantages. A recent case in point will perhaps 

 be better than anything else. Mr. R. C McGregor recently sent me 

 a lot of Homoptera from the Philippines collected as follows: 



Culasi, Panay. May 24, May 30, June 15, July 15, July 24. 

 Tibiao, Panay. May 12, May 14. Manilla, August 26. 



To have labeled all of these specimens by means of lettered labels 

 woiJd have been a very laborious process. To have had separate 



