236 JAS, J. SIMPSON—ENTOMOLOGICAL 
that hairs and scales are not rubbed off ; as the tissues contract in drying, the 
legs and wings are very apt to get pulled out of place, and to correct this, the 
specimens should be examined once or twice during the next day or two. If 
precisely the same data apply to a number of specimens, it will be necessary 
to label only two or three, provided that a small label bearing the same 
number be attached to every specimen; or else this may be indicated by 
drawing a pencil line round the whole group on the bottom of the box in which 
they are ultimately pinned. 
PackiInG.—Pinned specimens.—The inside of the box into which the insects 
are to be pinned should first be rubbed with a piece of sponge, or swab of cotton- 
wool, soaked in a saturated solution of naphthalin in chloroform, mixed with an 
equal quantity of medical (beechwood) creosote ; the mixture being applied until 
the cork-lining shows through the paper. This process will prevent mould and 
keep out destructive insects. The specimens should then be very firmly pinned 
into the box, a sheet of newspaper or other soft paper should be placed over the 
side containing the insects with the edges projecting so that on closing the lid it 
is held firmly in position. This minimises the risk of injury in the event of any 
of the specimens becoming loose in transit. The box containing the pinned 
insects should then be well wrapped in cotton-wool, shavings or moss, and enclosed 
in a covering wooden or tin box. 
Unpinned specimens.—These should be packed in the following manner, 
immediately after being killed. Take a very small piece of cotton-wool, tease 
it out into a light web-like mass, put this into a pill-box and so arrange it that 
it fills about two-thirds of the receptacle. Place the mosquitos or other small 
flies upon the wool, care being taken to distribute them evenly, and not too 
closely, over its surface. A very thin web-like layer may then be placed over 
the insects, but there must be xo pressure upon them, tight packing must be strictly 
avoided, and unravelled plugs of wool must not be used. Dry rigid specimens 
cannot be packed in this way. There must be only one layer of insects in each 
box. <A single drop of medical creosote should be placed on the inside of 
the lid of the pill-box ; if too much creosote be used, the specimens will be 
permanently discoloured. The data should be written, as above, on the outside 
of the box. The pill-boxes may then be carefully packed in a strong larger 
box for transmission. When sufficient specimens are available, it is advisable 
that both methods of packing should be used, and in the case of biting flies, 
some of each kind should also be preserved in spirit. 
Va.—_INSTRUCTIONS FOR COLLECTING LARGER 
DIPTERA (TWO-WINGED FLIES). 
CoLiLEctine.— In general, flies should be brought home alive in the glass- 
bottomed pill-boxes ; but ited large numbers are being caught this is sometimes 
impracticable, and a cyanide-bottle containing pieces of soft crumpled paper 
should be carried in the field. It is worth noting that Diptera may often be 
captured in quantities by sweeping in open marshy ground or in damp shady 
places. When a good many have thus been secured in ihe net, it should be waved 
rapidly backwards and forwards with one hand, then with the other hand the 
