205 



REMARKS ON THE PRESERVATION OF 

 LEPIDOPTEROUS INSECTS. 



Of all the varied tribes of insects, the lepidoptera 

 ire probably the most perishable. They are parti- 

 ularly subject to mouldiness, and are very liable 

 o the attacks of mites, and other minute insects, 

 vhich eat into and consume their bodies. Cabinets 

 hould therefore be kept in very dry situations ; 

 ,nd care should be taken that the insect is perfectly 

 xy when first placed in the cabinet. But when 

 hey do get mouldy, it may be washed off with a 

 amel's hair pencil, dipped in camphorated spirits 

 f wine. After which the insect must be placed in 

 , dry or warm situation till thoroughly dried, be- 

 ore being returned into the cabinet. 



Each drawer should always have a piece of cam- 

 hor kept in it, for the purpose of preventing the 

 nites from entering, although this does not always 

 rove successful. The presence of mites is easily 

 :nown by small parcels of dust, which will usually 

 e found deposited where they are. They must be 

 mmediately picked out, and their lodgement care- 

 ully cleaned with a camel hair pencil, which has 

 >een previously dipped in a solution of corrosive 

 ublimate, and then dried. 



