zoo LOG T. 49 



succeed in this, two principal causes of injury must be care- 

 fully guarded against — Damp, and the attacks of Insects ; 

 the former we generally have it in our power to avoid, but 

 the latter assail collections of this kind in so many ways, 

 -and under such varied circumstances, that the collector must 

 be ever on his guard ; since it often happens that the very 

 means used to destroy one kind of insect, calls into existenca 

 myriads of others equally destructive. As a general plan, 

 we have succeeded best by exposing from time to time, the 

 dry skins to the action of heat, which by repetition, though 

 it may in a slight degree fade their colours, has the great 

 advantage of eventually destroying all insects. 



When a box is filled with skins, or rather when a box full 

 is obtained, if circumstances will permit, the skins should be 

 loosely placed in a large case with a glazed front, having all 

 the seams or joints carefully stopped, by pasting strips of 

 paper over them ; in this state the case should be gradually 

 brought before a large fire, where it may remain six or eight 

 hours ; by having a glass front, if any insects, particularly of 

 the Moth kind, are amongst the skins, the heat will soon 

 cause them to flutter about, and they can easily be perceived 

 when dead. But lest any of the insects so destroyed, should 

 have deposited their eggs on the skins, the frequent repetition 

 of this plan is desirable, previous to the skins being finally 

 packed. 



When about to be packed, each skin should be wrapped 

 in a separate paper, (the commonest brown paper is to be 

 prefered in all cases, as it resists damp more than any 

 other kinds, and is less liable to be devoured by insects,) 



