58 
INSTBTTCTIOKS POU 
specimens in sawdust must be quite filled, otherwise the insects are 
liable to be injured by shaking about. 
When spirit is used, it is desirable to change it at least once after 
the specimens have been put into it, as the moisture from the insects 
weakens it. The spirit must bear a fair proportion to the bulk of 
the insects ; in other words, too many specimens must not be put into 
one bottle. Any space left at the top of the bottle should be filled 
loosely with soft paper to prevent the insects shaking about in transit. 
Cotton-wool must never be allowed to come in contact with insects, 
wet or dry. Too much stress cannot be laid on this point. 
Bees, flies, and other hairy insects should never be put into spirit 
or sawdust. 
Lepidoptera should be put into triangular envelopes with their 
wings folded together over their backs. These envelopes may be 
made thus : taking an oblong piece of paper (almost any sort will 
do), fold it as in fig. 1, then double one edge up, and the other 
down as in fig. 2. This makes them much more convenient for 
opening than if both edges are folded the same way. A stock of 
these of different sizes should be prepared ready for use. 
These envelopes may then be packed in tins or strong wooden 
boxes, with some naphthaline sprinkled among them. If tins are 
used, extra care must be taken that the specimens are not damp 
when the tin is closed. Care must be taken not to crush the 
specimens by putting too many into one box ; on the other hand, 
they must be sufficiently tightly packed to prevent them shifting 
about. 
Fig. 1. 
Fig. 2. 
