DIPTERA (TWO-WlMGEb FLIEs). 



73 



Diptera may also be put away for transport in three-cornered 

 envelopes of soft paper (newspaper), after the manner in which 

 butterflies are packed by collectors ; but this method, though it 

 answers fairly well for Tipulichc, does not suit thick-bodied flies, 

 such as TabanidcE, as these are often crushed by it, and if once 

 flattened cannot be restored to their natural shape. Envelopes 

 containing Diptera or other insects may be conveniently packed in 

 tin tobacco- or biscuit-boxes for transmission by parcel- post from 

 abroad. A few drops of weak carbolic acid should be sprinkled 

 over each layer of envelopes, and the box should be packed quite full. 



It is never advisable to put Diptera for transmission from abroad 

 into small boxes containing wool, as when flies are once in contact 

 with wool, and have become dry, it is very diflicult to remove them 

 without pulling off legs, bristles, etc. 



Pinning. 



Take a card disc, and write on it all the data connected with the 

 specimen to be pinned, as follows : (1) name of locality, including 

 altitude if known ; (2) date — day, month, year — 

 thus, 6.3.06 ; (3) collectors name ; (4) any brief 

 remarJxS of interest (which may if necessary be 

 written on the other side) — e.g. " Yery common" ; 

 "Only specimen seen"; "On dead antelope"; 

 "At blossom"; " Kunning on banana 



leaves." Longer notes on habits, etc., should be 

 entered in a note-book, with a number correspond- 

 ing to one written on the disc. Specimens taken 

 in coitu, for which a good look-out should always 

 be kept when collecting, should have the fact 

 noted on the disc of each, thus : " A — in coitU 

 with B " ; " B—in coitH with A." 



Place the disc on which the above particulars 

 have been written, plain side uppermost, on a 

 sheet of cork-carpet or pith, and, picking up with 

 the forceps an entomological pin (a No. 20 if the 

 specimen is not larger than a Blue-bottle, other- 

 wise a No. 10 or No. 5), thrust it through the centre of the 



USE OF DISCS. 



