BUTTERFLIES, MOTHS, AND BEETLES 301 



prepare paper pockets, use a rectangular piece of paper, and 

 fold thus: — 



Butterflies can, as a rule, be killed instantaneously by a moderate 

 pressure on their thorax. Having killed the specimen, drop it 

 head first into the paper pocket, taking care not to damage the 

 antennae or any other part of the body. Let the body slide 

 down along the diagonal line of the pocket, turn down the flap, 

 and the specimen is safely enclosed. Never place more than 

 one specimen in one and the same paper pocket. 



Collecting Box. — This should be filled, but not too tightly, 

 with cotton-wool. I have found the botanical form of box 

 the most useful on the march. I carry in it the empty paper 

 pockets ready for immediate use, as well as those filled 

 with the captured specimens. I keep the empty ones at one 

 end of the box and the filled at the other. The cotton-wool 

 prevents the specimens from being shaken about and from 

 getting injured, should the box fall to the ground. 



Killmg- Bottle. — This is absolutely necessary for killing beetles 

 and such of the thick-bodied lepidoptera as would get spoiled, 

 if killed by pressure on the thorax. 



Biscuit Tins. — An empty biscuit tin is the most convenient 

 receptacle for packing away the captured specimens for trans- 

 mission to Europe. Beetles should never be placed in the same 

 box with butterflies and moths ; they should have a separate box 

 for themselves. The biscuit tins should be neither too small 

 nor too large. A good pad of cotton-wool, placed on top of 

 the paper pockets, will prevent them from shifting their position, 

 and as more and more specimens are added, the pad of cotton- 

 wool should be reduced in size. The pad should always just 

 suffice to fill up the tin. 



Naphtlialine. — Without this drug, the collector may find all 

 his specimens spoiled by ants. On my first visit to Zanzibar, a 

 gentleman arriving from Uganda presented me with his "whole" 



