INFLATING LARVAE. 27 



Insects frequently become broken while in the cabinet 

 and it is recommended that inspissated ox gall made into 

 a thick gum with a little water be employed in mending 

 them. 



It is occasionally necessary to transport collections of in- 

 sects from one place to another and at such times the great- 

 est care should be taken to protect them from injury. The 

 collector in distant parts can send all but the Lepidoptera 

 and flies in spirit ; the former may be sent folded in envel- 

 opes while flies can only be pinned. In case mounted 

 specimens are to be sent the danger of damage is much 

 greater. Small cork-lined boxes should be employed and 

 the pins should be very firmly fixed, the points being forced 

 into the wood of the box. These smaller boxes should 

 then be placed in a larger one and surrounded on all sides 

 with crumpled paper, hay, "excelsior," or other elastic pack- 

 ing. By this process all jars received in transit are much 

 lessened. 



INFLATING LARVAE. 



Besides the usual manner of preserving larvae in spirit they 

 are sometimes inflated and dried. Several advantages accrue 

 from this method of preservation ; the colors are better 

 preserved, all hairs and spines retain their proper position 

 and the specimens are always in good condition for the 

 artist's pencil. The following account of the process is con- 

 densed from that of Mr. Scudder : 



The necessary instruments for the operation are a small 



