cla 
3° Abundance and rapid growth of moulds in wet seasons ; 
4° Abundance of Ants, Beetles (Anthrenus), Mites (Psocide), 
and Fish-insects (Zepisma), etc. 
We will touch as briefly as possible on the more obvious effects 
of these conditions. 
With extreme humidity, not only do moulds flourish, but set 
specimens become limp and relaxed. Arrangements for very 
thorough drying during setting must be made, and specimens 
already set should as far as possibie be kept fairly dry. Two 
methods may be used. The specimens may be enclosed in large 
wooden or tin cases in which hot air is kept constantly supplied 
from a lamp burning outside, or the air within the case may be 
dried by pans of calcium chloride or sulphuric acid. Carbolic acid 
may be used as an additional prevention against mould. 
One of the great difficulties at Pusa has been the fact that no 
store-box has yet been found which will stand the great seasonal 
and daily variations in temperature and humidity, and at the same 
time will not be of too thick and heavy a make to permit of being 
handled with comfort. This is one of our pressing wants, and it is 
to be hoped that manufacturers may produce a cheap light box 
made of non-conducting material, unaffected by changes of temper- 
ature, and impermeable to moisture. 
Changes of temperature induce deposition of moisture on con- 
ducting surfaces, and this alone renders the use of metal boxes 
impossible. Similarly moisture may condense on pins, and if these 
are of the ordinary kind, verdigris is practically certain to appear 
in time and often ruins a specimen. Nickel or silver pins should be 
invariably employed if possible. Absorption of moisture is also 
probably the cause of the corrosion so often seen in the part of a 
pin which is imbedded in the lining of the box, whether this be 
cork, peat, or pith. Certainly a large amount of moisture can be. 
and is absorbed by any one of these three substances, while they 
also afford convenient lodging for Mites, especially in boxes which 
have been long in use. The Mites and mould can be kept in cheek 
by periodically washing the floor of the box with a mixture of 
equal parts of white beech creosote and a saturated solution of 
napthalene in chloroform. A nearer approach to the ideal method 
of lining boxes is secured by using paraffin wax (m-pt. 15°-20° F. 
above the maximum shade temperature) melted up with 25 %o of 
