60 INSTRUCTIONS FOR 



Labelling, 



Specimens should be distinctly labelled with the locality in which 

 they were taken, date of capture, elevation, etc. It is also important 

 to mention whether they were obtained during the wet or dry season. 

 These particulars should accompany the specimens themselves, and 

 not be merely noted in a book. 



Larv^. 



Persons residing in one place for any length of time can do great 

 service by rearing insects from their larv?e. With many caterpillars 

 this is often quite easy. Larvae of unknown species, unless possessing 

 some remarkable feature, are of very little interest. 



Larvae of Hymenoptera, Diptera, and Coleoptera may be killed in 

 boiling water, and after remaining in it from one to three minutes 

 (according to the size of the larvse) may be preserved in spirit. 



Caterpillars may be killed in the cyanide- bottle or collecting-tin, 

 and the skins preserved as dry specimens by means of the " larvae- 

 preserving apparatus " [see p. 54). 



The contents of the body are removed thus : — The dead larva is 

 l%id on a piece of blotting-paper, with the tail farthest from the 

 operator ; a pencil (or similar thing) is laid across the tail end, and 

 the contents rolled out of that part : this process is repeated, each 

 time placing the roller a little nearer the head, until the whole body 

 is emptied. Care should be taken, by shifting the position of the 

 larva on the paper, not to let the outside of the skin get wetted. 

 The roller must not be too much pressed. A glass tube drawn out 

 to a point is now inserted in the posterior opening of the skin, and 

 held with the spring, and air is forced into it with the inflator, while 

 the skin is held over the drying-apparatus or in the small oven. 

 When dry the specimen is ready for mounting on a dry stem of 

 grass or other suitable object. Care should be taken not to distend 

 the skin unnaturally. 



Methods of sending Specimens Home. 



It is desirable to send home small consignments at a time, and the 

 p{5ircel-post should be used wherever this is practicable. Strong 



