156 PKESEEVATION OF SPECIMENS IN AUSTEALIAN MUSEUMS. 



the depredating larvse which had gained ingress. Naphthalene, however, was 

 much more effective ; although the Anthrenus larvse were sometimes found 

 concealed under it and as vigorous as possible, yet all other agents were 

 killed out. 



In respect of the preventive and preservative effect of naphthalene, I found 

 that a great deal depends upon (a) the form and (5) the quantity applied. 

 Solid lumps and balls proved more or less useless after a few days according 

 to circumstances, the surface becoming dense and smooth, minimising 

 volatilisation. The scaly state proved the most effective, the next being 

 the crushed, powdery one, which however soon " cakes " and thus becomes 

 less volatile. The quantity applied and found most satisfactory was from 

 one to two tablespoonsful per case of 24 in. x 18 in. x 2>^ in., according to 

 the greater or lesser hermetic fitting or necessity of frequency of opening. 

 Smaller cases require comparatively little, but too much is preferable to too 

 little. One or two applications per annum has been found quite efficient 

 during several years. 



The Tinea moths and several coleoptera, like the Sitotroga, &c., complete 

 their life cycles within closed vessels, cases, &c., as long as the food-supply 

 lasts ; not so the Anthrenus, as the adult beetle can only live by feeding 

 on and among flowers. I have often found them numerously on those 

 of Eucalyptus, Ijeptospermum, Bursaria, in the woods, and on Roses, 

 Pyrethrum, &c., in my own garden. Therefore every generation requires 

 fresh infection from without, and this takes place through the oviposition 

 among the dust in the angles and crevices of protected portions of the floor 

 of the room or cabinets and chests of drawers, or on the back and sides of 

 the cases. From these positions the very active and minute larvse find their 

 way more or less easily into the interior and the specimens long before their 

 presence is suspected. A moderately liberal application of pyrethrum 

 powder in the loci indicated, and occasional rubbing over the sides and backs 

 of cases with a duster, I found quite efiicient. 



Dr. Ewart rightly draws attention to the fact that the larvse must have 

 some supply of moisture from external sources, although that be 

 imperceptible to the senses. In fact, I found that if this moisture be so 

 abundant as to become perceptible, mould (JPenicillium) soon affects the 

 specimens and the live larvse alike, and fatally in time. The supply is 

 provided by warm air more or less saturated with moisture coming in contact 

 with the specimens, when they had become much colder previously, the 

 condensed deposit being gradually absorbed by the internal substance, and 

 accumulated. This I have prevented by keeping the store-room moderately 

 warm from the end of autumn to early summer or latter part of spring, thus 

 removing the conditions permitting the condensation of such moisture quite 

 satisfactorily. A paper of mine, which perhaps was forgotten to be sent 

 to the Society, will be likewise forwarded, in which this aspect of the 

 matter is treated more fully. 



