MAILING AND STORING 



37 



A light dust-proof and insect-proof box is necessary to hold a 

 permanent collection. Ideal boxes are seen in either the Schmidt 

 box, illustrated in figure 60, or in a Comstock box. Collections 

 should be examined every few months to prevent dermestids or 

 other pests from working injury. If evidence of 

 their presence is observed, the box and its contents 

 should be subjected to the fumes of carbon bisulfid 

 in a closed receptacle for several hours. Two 

 treatments, with ten days' interval between, may 

 be necessary. Most entomologists keep naphtha- 

 line cones (Fig. 61) in their insect boxes as repel- 

 lents. It is not safe to store insects permanently in 

 unprotected cigar boxes. 



Mailing and Storing. In mailing insects in vials, 

 round mailing boxes (Fig. 62) are made use of, the vial being 

 wrapped in cotton. Figure 63 shows the method of cutting and 

 folding papers for butterflies and moths, either when they are to 

 be mailed (in which case they would be packed flat in boxes), or 

 when they are to be kept in storage. Avoid moisture in packing 



FIG. 61. A naph- 

 thaline cone. 



FIG. G2. Mailing box for vials. 



away insects, and protect them from the attacks of mice and mu- 

 seum pests. Specimens of a miscellaneous nature may be mailed or 

 stored in boxes between layers of cotton, a piece of tissue paper being 

 placed below and above them to keep them from actual contact 

 with the cotton. This is a good method to be followed by students 

 making small collections, required for a school or college course. 



