C^OLLECTING INSECTS. 61 



Wooden boxes * travel very well in this way ; but if pinned specimens 

 are put in a box, it must be put into another rather larger one, with 

 cotton-wool or other material firmly (but not too tightly) packed 

 round it. Small boxes or bottles are always preferable to large 

 ones, as an accident to one does not involve serious loss. 



Boxes containing pinned specimens must of course be lined at the 

 bottom with cork or thick pith, into which the pins may be stuck 

 firmly ; and it is desirable to pin a piece of sponge dipped in strong 

 carbolic acid in the box, taking care of course not to let the acid run 

 on to the specimens. Lumps of camphor or naphthaline are very 

 dangerous in a box with pinned insects, and if used at all should be en- 

 closed in a muslin bag, and v try firmly fixed in the corner of the box. 



For the transit of certain insects, such as Coleoptera, which have 

 not been pinned, spirit may be used ; but this should be avoided when 

 possible. The best way is to use coarse sawdust from which all fine 

 dust lias been sifted. Some naphthaline should be mixed with the 

 sawdust, or, better still, especially when there is risk of the speci- 

 mens becoming mouldy, carbolic acid should be used. Three ounces 

 of saturated solution of carbolic acid to eight ounces of sawdust is 

 about the proportion. The boxes or tins containing the specimens 

 in sawdust must be quite filled, otherwise the insects are liable to be 

 injured by shaking about. 



When spirit is used, it is" desirable to change it at least once after 

 the specimens have been put into it, as the moisture from the insects 

 weakens it. The spirit must bear a fair proportion to the bulk of 

 the insects ; in other words, too many specimens must not be put into 

 one bottle. Any space left at the top of the bottle should be filled 

 loosely with sof t ^xr^^j^er to prevent the insects shaking about in transit. 



Cotton-wool must never be allowed to come in contact with insects, 

 wet or dry. Too much stress cannot be laid on this point. 



Bees, flies, and other hairy insects should never be put into spirit 

 or sawdust. 



Lejndoptera should be put into triangular envelopes with their 



* If cigar- boxes are used, care must be taken that they are strong enough, as 

 they are otherwise apt to be crushed in transit. 



5 



