226 JAS. J. SIMPSOX — EXTOMOLOGICAL 



that Imirs and scales are not riibl>eti otF ; as the tissues contract in lirying. the 

 legs and wings are very apt to g-et puUetl out of place, and to correct this, tlio 

 specimens should be exauiinoil once or twice during the next day or two. If 

 precisely the same data apply to a number of specimens, it will be necessi\ry 

 to label only two or three, provided that a small label bearing the same 

 lunnber be attached to every specimen ; or else this niav be indicated by 

 drawing a pencil line round the whole gi-onp on the bottom of the box in which 

 they are ultimately pinned. 



Packing. — Pinned specimemt. — The inside of the box into whioli the insects 

 are to be pinned shoidd first be rubbed with a piece of sponge, or swab of cotton- 

 wool, soaked in a saturated solntion of naphthalin in chloroform, mixed with an 

 equal quantity of medical (beeehwood) creosote ; the mixture being applied until 

 the cork-lining shows through the paper. This process will pi-event mould and 

 keep out destructive insects. The specimens shoidd then be very tirmly pinned 

 into the box, a sheet of newspaper or other soft paper should be placed over the 

 side containing the insects with the edges projecting so that on closing the lid it 

 is held firmly in position. This minimises the risk of injury in the event of any 

 of the specimens becoming loose in transit. The box containing the piimed 

 insects should then be well tvrappcd in cotton-wool, shavings or moss, and enclosed 

 in a covering wooden or tin box. 



Unpinned specimens. — These sluMild be packed in the following manner, 

 immediately after being killed. Take a very small piece of cotton-wool, tease 

 it out into a lig'ht web-like mass, put this into a pill-box ajid so arrange it that 

 it fills about two-thirds of the receptacle. Place the mosquitos or other small 

 flies upon the wool, care being taken to distribute them evenly, and not too 

 closely, over its surface. A very thin web-like layer may then be placed over 

 the insects, but there must be no pressure upon them, tii/lit ptrcliintj must he strictly 

 avoided, and unravelled plugs of wool must not be used. Dry rigid specimens 

 cannot be packed in this wai/. There must be only one layer of insects in each 

 box. A single drop of medical creosote should be placed on the inside of 

 the lid of the pill-box ; if too much creosote be used, the specimens will be 

 permanently discoloured. The data should be written, as above, on the outside 

 of the box. The pill-boxes may then be carefully packed in a strong larger 

 box for tr.ansmission. When sutBcient s]ie.ciniens are available, it is advisable 

 that both methods of packing should be used, and in the case of biting flics, 

 some of each kind shouVl also be preserved in spirit. 



Va.— INSTKUCTIONS FOR COLLECTING LARGER 

 DIPTERA (TWO-WINGED FLIES'). 



Collecting.— In general, flies should be brought home alive in the glass- 

 bottomed pill-boxes ; but when large numbers are being caught this is sometimes 

 impracticable, and a cyanide-bottle containing pieces of soft crumpled paper 

 should be caii-ied in the field. It is worth noting that Diptera may often be 

 captured in quantities by sweeping in open marshy ground or in damp shady 

 places. When a good many have thus been secured in the net, it should be waved 

 rapidly backwards and forwards with one hand, then with the otlun- hand the 



