THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 219 
in your number for this month it is recommended to enclose them in a tin 
box to withstand the energy of the post-office officials. But even that is 
not safe; for though the said box itself may not be broken by the 
tremendous whack the said officials usually lay on, yet still, very delicate 
objects inside may be injured by concussion. In short there is a better 
way, by which I have sent microscopic objects hundreds of miles and 
numerous times, without the slightest injury. It is as follows: It is quite 
a mistake to place stamps upon the box itself. They should be fixed to 
one of the common luggage labels, which is then attached to the box by 
a reliable piece of string, so as to separate it from the box by about two 
inches. The “ official” may then whack away at the luggage label to his 
heart’s content, and no harm be done. In this case the box need not be 
strong ; and, to prove this I now send, for your acceptance, a very fine 
specimen of the Chirodota violacea, popularly known as ‘‘ Pharaoh’s 
chariot-wheels.” The containing box, you see, is purposely slight ; and 
yet, I will venture to say, you will receive the slide uninjured ; and, if so, 
I hope you will inform your readers of the fact, and draw their attention 
to the impropriety of placing their stamps on the box. I will merely add 
that by the ‘common luggage label” I mean those made of paper pasted 
on cloth, and having a small ring atoneend. They are sold by the dozen 
at almost every stationer’s shop. I must add that I do not claim the 
merit of the invention. It is by no means new, but, nevertheless, does 
not appear to be known to many. One more remark. The address. 
should be written (as you see I have) on the label itself ; and, though not 
absolutely needful,it is a good plan to wrap the box in black paper, which 
prevents all temptation to stamp it, as in that case the stamp will not be 
seen.—H. U. F. 
[Our correspondent is quite right. His frail box reached us safely, and 
we cannot but be glad of the post-office energy which has happened so. 
fortunately for us!—£a@. Science Gossip. | 
We heartily concur in the remarks of H. U. J. It is most grievous to 
have fine specimens so ruthlessly smashed, as we sometimes receive them, 
beyond any possibility of recognition. We are glad to state that this 
method of attaching a stout paper-and-cloth label, which we know in this 
country as a tag, and putting the address and stamps on it, instead of the 
box, has already been adopted by some of our correspondents. We 
received a few days since from a friend in San Francisco a box containing 
