PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIED ENTOMOLOGICAX MEETING 965 



ful supply of powdered naphthaline should therefore be kept in all store- 

 bexes, cabinet-drawers, etc. It is of comparatively little use to pin a 

 large lump of solid naphthaUne in one corner, as the evaporation from 

 a limited surface is too small to exercise any really beneficial effect. 

 In the case of cabinets, there is ample space provided as a rule around 

 each drawer and, if this space is kept iilled with powdered naphthaline, 

 the collection will remain quite safe ; should excessive evaporation 

 take place and naphthaline be deposited on the specimens, a httle airing 

 will speedily fi-ee them without damage. In the case of store-boxes, 

 a " camphor-cell " is usually provided and" this should be filled with 

 powdered naphthaline, but it is often too small and in such cases the 

 inside of the box may be painted over with naphthaline dissolved in 

 benzine. It is best to keep store-boxes in tightly-fitting almirahs which 

 can be given a plentiful supply of naphthaline in crystals or small lumps 

 so that the boxes are kept in an atmosphere impregnated with naph- 

 thaline vapour. 



Extreme dryness is also injurious to insect specimens, as they become 

 very brittle and are apt to break at the least touch. Moderately dry 

 conditions of storage should be aimed at as far as possible. 



Insect Pests, especially Psocids (the so-called " mites "), Dermestid 

 beetles, Tribolium, and Tineid moths attack and ruin specimens to 

 which they have access, but are easily kept at bay by the use of tightly- 

 fitting receptacles well impregnated with naphthaline. In case pests 

 such as Dermestids gain access to the collection, however, it takes more 

 than naphthaline to destroy them. In such cases a mixture may be 

 used composed of naphthaline dissolved in carbon bisulphide and mixed 

 with beech-wood creosote, in the proportion of about one-third of each 

 constituent, and a httle of this poured into the boxes ; this acts equally 

 well for insect pests and mould and at Pusa we rise this to a consider- 

 able extent, especially during the Rains. 



Care must be taken that insect pests do not attack specimens when 

 on the setting-boards and be subsequently introduced into the collec- 

 tion with the set specimens. The boards should therefore be kept 

 in a tightly-fitting drawer or similar place with plenty of naphthaline 

 and carbohc acid. Major Fraser mentions a small fly which attacks 

 insects (especially dragon-flies) on the setting-boards at Poona, but I 

 have never come across this. 



Larger animals, such as mice, will devour the bodies of dried speci- 

 mens, and of course ruin them, but the access of such large animafe 

 can only be due to gross carelessness. And, generally speaking, damage 

 to a collection by animal pests of any sort is only possible when there 

 is a certain amount of neglect exhibited. 



