INSECT PESTS—CASES FOR STORING SKINS. 107 
interior of a skin; whilst the minute eggs are commonly 
altogether overlooked. But the ‘‘ bugs” are not long at work 
without leaving their unmistakable traces. Shreds of feathers 
float off when a specimen is handled, or fly out on flipping the 
skin with the fingers, and in bad cases even whole bundles of 
plumes come away at a touch. Sometimes, leaving the plu- 
mage intact, bugs eat away the horny covering of the bill and 
feet, making a peculiarly unhappy and irreparable mutilation. 
I suppose this piece of work is done by a particular insect, but 
if so I do not know what one. It would appear that when the 
bugs effect lodgment in any one skin, they usually finish it 
before attacking another, unless they are in great force. We 
may consequently, by prompt removal of an infested specimen, 
save further depredations ; nevertheless the rest become ‘‘sus- 
picious,” and the whole drawer or box should at any rate be 
quarantined, if not submitted to any of the processes described 
beyond. Our lines of defence are several. We may mechan- 
ically oppose entrance of the enemy; we may meet him with 
abhorrent odors that drive him off, sicken or kill him, and 
finally we may cook him to death. I will notice these methods 
successively, taking occasion to describe a cabinet under head 
of the first. 
§56. CASES FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORTATION should be rather 
small, for several reasons. They are easier to handle and 
pack. There are fewer birds pressing each other. Particular 
specimens are more readily reached. Bugs must effect just so 
many more separate entrances to infest the whole. Small lids 
are more readily fitted tight. For the ordinary run of small 
birds I should not desire a box over 18 X 18 X 18, and should 
prefer a smaller one; for large birds, a box just long enough 
for the biggest specimen, and of other proportions to corres- 
pond fairly, is most eligible. Whatever the dimensions, a proper 
box presupposes perfect jointing ; but if any suspicion be en- 
tertained on this score, stout paper should be pasted along 
all the edges, both inside and out. We have practically to do 
with the lid only. If the lot is likely to remain long untouched, 
