40 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



60-90 drops as a charge — and renewed it as it evaporated, and 

 this method I have used for many years. 



The relaxing-box or vessel which appears to afford advan- 

 tages above all others is a glass cylinder, covered with a round 

 disk of glass ground to jfit accurately. Into this cylinder is 

 placed a tripod of glass, to hold the clock-glass upon which the 

 specimens are to rest. Distilled water to the depth of half an 

 inch is put into the cylinder. The latter is then placed over a 

 Bunsen's burner, with wire gauze over it, and the water allowed 

 to boil for five minutes or more. On allowing the vessel to cool, 

 a partial vacuum is produced, and the cover must be removed 

 with care some hours afterwards, when the specimens to be 

 relaxed and the acetic acid are then inserted. 



The vessel cannot remain completely sterilized because of the 

 frequent movement of specimens to and from it, but heat can be 

 applied from time to time, and it can be kept, as free as possible, 

 from those spores which do germinate with marvellous rapidity 

 in the saturated atmosphere of the relaxing-box. 



The requisites for this relaxing-chamber can be procured for 

 a few shillings from Messrs. J. J. Griffin & Sons, 20, Sardinia 

 Street, Lincoln's Inn Fields, W.C. 



A casual remark by Sir Geo. Hampson on the loss of colour 

 of specimens in the relaxing-box led to an explanation as to the 

 method I adopted, which he has been good enough to test for 

 several months in the Natural History Museum, and with such 

 satisfactory results that he encouraged me to make a note of the 

 method for the benefit of fellow-workers. 



These notes are the reply to his request, which it gives me 

 great pleasure to send to him. 



5, Stanley Crescent, W. : 16 Jan., 1902. 



DESCBIPTIONS OF THREE NEW BUTTERFLIES FROM 



EAST AFRICA. 



By Emily Maky Sharpk. 



ACK^A BAXTERI, Sp. 11. 



Closely allied to A. insignis, Distant, but is at once dis- 

 tinguished by the clear transparent band on the apical area of 

 the fore wing. 



Primaries. Basal half ferruginous red, the outline irregular 

 where it joins the dusky brown terminal portion of the wing ; a 

 transverse line of three transparent spots, situated above the third 

 median nervule, and between the first and second radial nervules, thus 

 relieving the apical area of the wing. Costa dusky brown, the ex- 

 treme base with black streaks, one of the latter extending for a little 



