217 
no woods exist and the ground is hard, it is recommended to employ 
stone rollers e weno d the locusts, and finally their destruction by 
catching them in bag-nets is also recommended. 
n the opinion of the tebe these measures are the most practical 
of all those hitherto employed. 
The Earl of Kimberly, K.G., I have, &c. 
&c. &e. &c. (Signed) P. STEVENS. 
CCCC.—PRESERVATION OF BOOKS IN THE TROPICS. 
The care of any considerable collection of books ia a warm country 
is a much more difficult matter than in a cool one. he following 
summary of information on the subject is extracted for general in- 
formation in the Colonies from 7ndia Museum Notes, vol. iii., No. 3 
(1894). 
The preservation of Books from Insects in India. 
In April 1893 information was called for upon the subject of the 
tegrates it. The only other insects which have been noticed as causin 
any considerable damage are white ants (Termes sp.) and c ock tendit 
(Peri americana, Deg.). rst devours the books wholesale, 
but are. easily prevented from ening access to them by placin 
shelves upon the stone insulators commonly in while the second 
merely deface the bindings, so are of less importanc 
reatment recommended for use in the ; fibras of the Revenue 
as benzine collas, into the crevices of the binding, and then shutting up 
the volume for a few days in a close-fitting box to prevent the escape of 
the fumes. Books so dealt with to be afterwards sponged over lightly 
with a very little of the finest kerosine oil, which should be rubbed off 
renders the books to a great extent distasteful to insects without causing 
serious injury. It is objectionable on account of the odour of the 
kerosine oil, but has the recommendation of harmlessness combined 
i y 
Particulars have since been obtained, through the kindness of the 
Superintendent of the Royal Botanical Gardens, Sibpore, of a system 
which has been adopted for preserving books in that institution. The 
treatment has been in use for a number of years, apparently without 
accident, and Dr. George King reports very favourably upon its effects. 
It consists in brushing the books over with a saturated solution of 
corrosive sublimate, made ? Pose Dy keeping a iie m nps of the 
0 p 
imum amount may "be absorbed. Great care should 
of course, be taken in handling the corrosive sublimate on account 
of its exceedingly poisonous nature, 
v 
