GENERAL REMARKS. 87 



Crude creosote, in little pots or saucers, is a great deterrent to 

 tlie visits of insect plagues ; it cannot, however, be exposed 

 openly, as its scent is overpowering and decidedly unhealtliy 

 for use in private houses. In museums it does very well if 

 cased up. 



With regard to camphor in museums, although it is so con- 

 stantly used, I consider it of no use as a deterrent. A small piece 

 of tallow candle is equally efficacious, and of late I have had much 

 more faith in insect powders, the best of which is, I believe, 

 compounded of the petals of the Russian tansy {Pyrethrum 

 roseum). This has certainly some principle contained in it not 

 obvious to our senses. It is perfectly harmless to man, and to 

 domestic animals, but on insects its action is entirely different. 

 I cannot as yet discover whether insects eat it, or if its 

 smell overcomes them, whether it repels, or attracts them to 

 their doom. A series of experiments has left me just as much 

 in the dark as ever. Certain it is that I have never found insects 

 among skins over which it has been strewn. There is, however, 

 one slight objection to its use, which is that it stains light- 

 coloured skins, if at all greasy, with its fine, brownish-yellow 

 dust. This is, however, but a trifle, easily avoided, in face of its 

 unquestionable value. I have used it now for many years, 

 and have never had cause to alter my opinion as to its efiicacy. 

 The best only must be procured, from some well-known whole- 

 sale house, price about 3s. per lb. That sold made up in small 

 quantities is generally adulterated and useless. No curator 

 should ever be without it, and a small quantity should always 

 be placed inside a newly-made skin. It can also be worked 

 up in many of the preservative pastes, or macerated in spirit 

 as a wash, for the inside of skins. 



Baking or stoving maggot-infected specimens is recommended 

 by some authors, but I strongly object to it in the case of old or 

 valuable skins, firstly, because the heat can seldom be properly 

 regulated, unless in an apparatus specially constructed ; secondly, 

 because heat suflB.cient to kill the larvae is also sufficient to crimp 

 or twist some part of the plumage or render the skin, if an old 

 specimen, too crisp or tender for ultimate handling ; thirdly, 

 because even a moderate degree of heat is sufficient to set free 

 the fat contained in the skin, and thus spoil the feathers. 



