20 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



Fig. 23 Vial mounted on block (original). 



are slipped between curved wires fixed to a block, which is held firmly in 

 the tray by forcing into the cork the two short brads in its under surface. 



This arrangement permits 

 the storage of all forms to- 

 gether without much addi- 

 tional weight. In order 

 to avoid distortion caused 

 by the curved surface of 

 an ordinary vial, Professor 

 Comstock of Cornell uni- 

 versity uses a square form made with a bent neck, but the extra expense 

 and increased weight will tend to prevent its adoption to a great extent. 



Vials containing insects should be kept full of alcohol, as 

 specimens so preserved are much less injured by jarring, and 

 as they are always covered by the fluid, even when the vials 

 are on their side, there is less opportunity for discoloration. 

 Rubber stoppers are regarded as best, though first quality 

 corks give good results. In order to have the vial full, plenty 

 of alcohol is put in and a pin held against the upper side of the 

 stopper as it is inserted, allows the air to escape and also the 

 small amount of superfluous liquid. 



Labeling" insects. Now that considerable attention is 

 being paid to the distribution and life history of insects, no 

 specimen should be mounted without putting on the pin with 

 it a label bearing at least the locahty and date of its capture, ofpinincork- 

 This record should be intelligible to all. The name and ab- ^"«^*^*(^^'*s^- 



° nal). 



breviation of both town and state should appear, for if only 

 the town is given and the specimen sent to another stale in exchange, 

 serious confusion might result. For the same reason it is better to use 

 an abbreviation for the month, rather than a numeral, because 5, 7/99 

 may mean either May 7/99 or 5 July '99, according to the custom of the 

 reader. This label should be small, in order to economize space, and 

 should always accompany the specimen. It costs little, is neater and 



Albany, N. Y. Albany, N. Y. Albany, N. Y. Albany, N. Y. Albany, N. Y. 

 June 1899 .Tune 1899 June 1899 June 1899 June 1899 



N. Y. S. Coll. N. Y. S. Coll. N, Y. S. Coll. N. Y. S. Coll. N. Y. S. Coll. 



Fig. 25 Locality and date labels used in state etomologist's office. 



saves space to have these labels printed, leaving blanks for the day of 

 the month and the year. If these are set solid when printed, no trim- 

 ming will be necessary as the labels have only to be cut apart. When 



