﻿^sC Journ., Bom. Xal. Hist. Soc, Vol. XVI, Xo. 4. [Nov. 2, 191/5, 



will not only koep off' mould, but insect p9sts of all descriptions. 

 Mould on the head of small insects mukos the structure unrecognisable, 

 and, in general, cannot be removed. 



It is impossible to insist too strongly on the necessity for proper 

 packing; it is very disappointing to all concerned when valuable 

 specimens are destroyed in transit, whilst with due care this need never 

 happen. I recommend that the following instructions should be strict- 

 ly carried out. The insect-box should bo small and light, no strength 

 being Required, and the cork should be good ; the specimens placed a» 

 close together as possible, all pins firmly fixed, and if naphthaline or 

 other preservative is included, it should be wrapped in muslin, and this 

 very firmly pinned. A piece of loose cotton wool may be pinned in 

 one corner to catch stray abdomens if detacheil. The insect-box should 

 then be packed in a larger box of sufficient size to allow of at least one 

 inch of packing all round, and at top and bottom ; this packing should 

 be either cotton wool or tightly crumpled paper, the latter material 

 being unsurpassed for cheapne?3 and efficiency. The outer case must 

 be strong enough to resist moderate pressure, but any light wooden box 

 will serve, or a biscuit-tin does very well. The address should not be 

 entrusted to a tied label, as these are frequently dragged off" in transit, 

 but gummed on the outer case. Insects thus packed were sent me by 

 Captain (now Lt.-Col.) Manders from the Shan States, travelling 

 hundreds of miles by pack-mule over mountain ranges and unbridged 

 torrents before making the voyage to England, and suffered absolutely 

 no damaiie. All consignments should be addressed to me at Thorn- 

 hanger, Marlborough, Wilts. 



All specimens must bs pinned, not sent in papers ; if possible, they 

 should be set, as they do not relax so well as larger insects, and this 

 applies especially to the more minute species which can hardly be set 

 excapt when fresh. Fins pins of only moderate length should be used ; 

 for averao-e Micros it suffices if there is about half-an-inch of pin below 

 the insect, and enough above to grasp with the forceps. 



As the basis of the following descriptions I have assumed the classi- 

 fication, terminology, systematic characters, &c., given in my " Hand- 

 book of British L3[)idoptera." As the work proceeds, I will give such 

 dichotomous tabulations of the genera and species from time to time as 

 may seem necessary. Meanwhile, I shall be glad to explain to corres- 

 pondents anv difficulties that th^^y find in idciTtificatiou of si)ecics. 



