PRESERVING INSECTS 



2 I 



writing labels, specially for alcoholic specimens, use india or an engross- 

 ing ink, as ordinary inks fade after a few years exposure to light. In the 

 case of insects received from others it is well to include the name of the 

 donor, which may either be on the same label with the locality and date 

 or on a separate slip. When the name of the insect is known, that may 

 be written on a larger label and put on the pin below the locality label. 

 It is sometimes very desirable to attach other information to a specimen, 

 but the capacity of a label is limited, and for this purpose numbers may 

 be used. A numeral is given each insect with something worthy of note 

 and the record entered opposite this number in a book or on a slip. In 

 case it is desirable to make one record applying to a large number of 

 specimens, specially if widely separated, a lot number may be given and 

 a small label bearing it put on the pin of each. This lot number refers 

 in a similar manner to a record book concerning the various lots of in- 

 sects. For example one lot has been determined by a specialist, while 

 another may have been taken under peculiar conditions. 



Insect cases. A collector soon finds himself with a number of 

 specimens and no place to store them. At first they may be put in cigar 

 boxes, or even in pasteboard boxes, but museum pests find them readily 

 in such places and rapid ruin follows unless the most vigilant care is 

 exercised. The destructiveness of pests renders a tight case of some 

 form a necessity. To exclude insects, light, dust and other enemies 

 of a collection, various cases have been designed and are for sale by 

 dealers. The essentials of a good case are that it shall be tight when 

 closed, of a convenient size, durable and not too expensive. It must be 

 well made or in the course of a few years warping and checking render 

 it practically worthless. It will also be found economical to have the 

 case lined with sheet or pressed cork to facilitate pinning specimens. 

 The Schmidt case is very good and convenient in many respects and is 

 extensively used in the United States national museum. It is made of 

 white" pine, shellacked or varnished, and has outside dimensions of 

 33x21.5x6.7 cm (13x8^x2! in.). The top and bottom are cross grain 

 veneered, the latter lined with cork, the two halves hinged at the back 

 and held together tightly with hooks and eyes. 



A good case, extensively used by Dr Lintner in his private collection, 

 has outside dimensions of 29.2x36.7x6.1 cm (ii^-xi4|x2y in.) and inside 

 a clear space of 4.2 cm (if in.). The sides are 1.2 cm (y 7 ^ in.) thick, of 

 well-seasoned pine or whitewood, and are lined with tea lead, the lining 

 extending tor a short distance over the corked bottom, which is composed 



