SENDING INSECTS BY POST 3 



out on the ordinary entomological setting- 

 boards, and, when quite dry, transfer to my 

 cabinet. The TRICHOPTERA, or caddis-flies, may 

 be displayed to advantage by this method, 

 but the more delicate insects, such as the 

 EPHEMERID^E and many of the PERLID.E, lose 

 their form and colour entirely during the pro- 

 cess of drying, and become so brittle that the 

 slightest breath of air brings about their dis- 

 integration. 



Then comes the problem of sending the sending 

 captures through the post, or of taking then/pSt! 8 

 to their permanent quarters in such a manner 

 that they may arrive undamaged. I have 

 frequently received from correspondents flies 

 which have arrived in so fragmentary a con- 

 dition that their correct determination has been 

 rendered impossible. On occasions I have re- 

 ceived boxes in which caddis, or EPHEMERIM; 

 nymphs, have been packed alive, and in most 

 cases these have come to hand with the con- 

 tents in such an advanced state of decom- 

 position that their instant destruction has been 

 required. 



I would impress upon collectors, who may 

 be desirous of sending specimens by post, 

 that EPHEMERID.E or PERLID^E must be pre- 

 served in fluid, and that if TRICHOPTERA or 

 other insects are sent dry, they should be 

 pinned through the thorax and placed in ento- 

 mological boxes sold for the purpose, care 

 being taken that the pins are inserted as 

 firmly as possible into the cork. For single 



