The Capture, Preparation, and Preservation of Specimens 



extremity of the larval skin. Upon the release of pressure they 

 spread apart, and after the shellac has dried the skin is firmly 

 held by them. They may then be attached to pins by simply 

 twisting the free end of the wire about the pin, or they may be 

 placed upon artificial imitations of the leaves and twigs of their 

 appropriate food-plants." 



THE PRESERVATION AND ARRANGEMENT OF 

 COLLECTIONS 



The secret o preserving collections of Iepidoptera in beauti- 

 ful condition is to exclude light, moisture, and insect pests. 

 Light ultimately bleaches many species, moisture leads to mould 

 and mildew, and insect pests devour the specimens. The main 

 thing is therefore to have the receptacles in which the specimens 

 are placed dark and as nearly as possible hermetically sealed and" 

 kept in a dry place. In order to accomplish this, various devices 

 have been resorted to. 



Boxes.— Boxes for the preservation of specimens are made with 

 a tongue on the edges of the bottom fitting into a groove upon the 



lid, or they may be made with inside 

 pieces fastened around the inner edge 

 of the bottom and projecting so as to 



2gg|ggg| gggg^ 



l y WTTWjl 



■v.-. s 



* 



^ 



Fig. 65. — Detail drawing of 

 front of box, made to resemble a 

 book: s, s, sides, made of two ^g 

 pieces of wood glued together 

 across the grain ; /, tongue ; 



catch the lid. 

 The accompany- 

 ingoutlinesshow 

 the method of 

 joining different 

 forms of boxes 

 (Figs. 65-67). 

 The bottom of 

 the box should 

 lined with 



//////..'sm'ssssA 



m 



pa- 



Y.'i-^'.ci 



P 



y/s///b< 



~~ 



Fig. 66. — Detail drawing 

 some substance of front of box: r, top; b, 



groove; c, cork: '*. paper cover- whirh will enable bo * to , m ! e > , s ! de .'/> s * n P' 

 hi" the cork wnicn wiiienauie nal i e d around inside as at » ; 



the specimens to 0, cork; p, paper lining. 



be pinned into it securely. For this purpose sheet-cork about a 

 quarter of an inch thick is to be preferred to all other substances. 

 Ground cork pressed into layers and covered with white paper 



48 



