COLLECTING INSECTS. 
57 
wooden boxes * travel very well in this way ; but if panned specimens 
are put in a box, it must be put into another rather larger one, with 
cotton- wool or other material firmly (but not too tightly) packed 
round it. Small boxes or bottles are always preferable to large 
ones, as an accident to one does not involve serious loss. 
Boxes containing pinned specimens must of course be lined at the 
bottom with cork or thick pith, into which the pins may be stuck 
firmly ; and it is desirable to pin a piece of sponge dipped in strong 
carbolic acid in the box, taking care of course not to let the acid run 
on to the specimens. Lumps of camphor or naphthaline are very 
dangerous in a box with pinned insects, and if used at all should be en- 
closed in a muslin bag, and very firmly fixed in the corner of the box. 
For the transit of certain insects, such as Coleoptera, which have 
not been pinned, spirit may be used ; but this should be avoided when 
possible. The best way is to use coarse sawdust from which all fine 
dust has been sifted. Some naphthaline should be mixed with the 
sawdust, or, when there is risk of the specimens becoming mouldy, 
carbolic acid should be used. The boxes or tins containing the 
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 
* If cigar- boxes are used, care must be taken that they are strong enough, as 
they are otherwise apt to be crushed in transit. 
