COLIvECTING AXD PrESt:RVIXG DrAGOXFI.IES II 



Strips. This method of seahng the envelope is infinitely superior to the 

 time-honored method of turning the corners. It requires less time, en- 

 dangers less the contents of the envelope, is more secure, and facilitates the 

 ultimate packing of the dried material. After papering, the envelopes should 

 not be tumbled about till the specimens are thoroughly dry. Otherwise 

 abdomens may be thrown up between the wings, may be crossed and 

 constricted or bent at the point of crossing, or other damage may be done. 



Drying Specimens. — As has been stated, in papering material the first 

 consideration is to prevent distortion. The second point is to preserve as 

 fully as possible, and that is often far too little at the best, the structures and 

 the colors of the insect in life, or at least to dry it rapidly and thoroughly, 

 and prevent a slow decomposition which would render the preserved speci- 

 men unduly fragile. In this connection it may be stated that it is unnecessary 

 and undesirable to make a general practice of passing bristles or other sup- 

 ports through dragonflies' bodies if they have been properly dried. Bristles 

 may be necessary in repairing broken specimens, but such specimens should 

 be considered surgical cases, and this occasional heroic treatment should not 

 be inflicted on all. Another reason for rapid drying is facility in handling a 

 large number of specimens which once dried can be safely packed away,, 

 but which if undried and accumulating from day to day would form a 

 serious obstacle to the movements of the collector. 



If the amount of material collected is not large, if the collecting days 

 are not continuous, and if frequent changes of locality are not made, papered 

 dragonflies can be dried very well under ordinar}^ conditions without recourse 

 to artificial heat. At his home the writer arranges the papered material on 

 large sheets of cardboard which are placed on tables in a dr}- room where 

 the full sunlight can fall on them. As stated above, while drying the enve- 

 lopes containing specimens must not be tumbled about. Rapidity of dryings 

 is essential to good color preservation, and is more readily obtained in some 

 climates than others. In a humid climate artificial drying is necessary if 

 good preservation is to be obtained. Artificial drying facilitates handling 

 large quantities of material rapidly, prevents large accumulations of un- 

 dried material which require the collector's attention, and seriously burden 

 him if he wishes to make frequent moves to new localities. 



After several experiments with differently constructed artificial driers. I 

 have made one which seems to answer all the requirements. This is a tin 

 box 15 inches high and 10 inches square, open at the top and bottom. Three 

 sides are of tin without openings. The fourth side is open except for about 

 2 inches at the top and i inch at the bottom (where the tin of the adjacent 

 sides is continuous), with the proper supports for 4 interchangeable drawers, 

 each 3 inches high. The supports for these drawers are placed so the first 

 drawer is just above the inch at the bottom of the box. Each drawer is 

 about 3 inches deep and 10 inches square ; the sides are of tin and the bottom 

 of wire mesh, about 6 meshes to the inch ; the top is open. These 4 drawers 

 occupy the space between the inch of tin at the bottom and the tin about 2 

 inches wide at the top. A shallow pan of similar construction to the drawers 

 is made to drop into the top of the box. When all the drawers are in place 



