The Capture, Preparation, and Preservation of Specimens 



extremity of the larval skin. Upon the release of pressure they 

 spread apart, and after the shellac has dried the skin is firmly 

 held by them. They may then be attached to pins by simply 

 twisting the free end of the wire about the pin, or they may be 

 placed upon artificial imitations of the leaves and twigs of their 

 appropriate food-plants." 



THE PRESERVATION AND ARRANGEMENT OF 

 COLLECTIONS 



The secret of preserving collections of lepidoptera in beauti- 

 ful condition is to exclude light, moisture, and insect pests. 

 Light ultimately bleaches many species, moisture leads to mould 

 and mildew, and insect pests devour the specimens. The main 

 thing is therefore to have the receptacles in which the specimens 

 are placed dark and as nearly as possible hermetically sealed and 

 kept in a dry place. In order to accomplish this, various devices 

 have been resorted to. 



Boxes. — Boxes for the preservation of specimens are made with 

 a tongue on the edges of the bottom fitting into a groove upon the 



lid, or they may be made with inside 



pieces fastened around the inner edge 



of the bottom and projecting so as to 



catch the lid. 



The accompany- 

 ing outlines show 



the method of 



joining different 



forms of boxes 



(Figs. 65-67). 



The bottom of 



the box should 



be lined with 



Fig. 65. — Detail drawing of 

 front of box, made to resemble a 

 book: s, 5, sides, made of two 

 pieces of wood glued together 

 across the grain; /, tongue; 



Fig. 66. — Detail drawing 

 some substance of front of box: /, top; b, 

 groove ; f, cork ; i), paper cover- whirh will ptriblf ^'•ottom; e, side;/, strip, 

 mg the cork ' ■^' ' * wnicn Will eiiauie ,,3,]^^ around inside as at // ; 



the specimens to c, cork; ^, paper lining. 



be pinned into it securely. For this purpose sheet-cork about a 

 quarter of an inch thick is to be preferred to all other substances. 

 Ground cork pressed into layers and covered with white paper 



48 



