MORSE: ORTIIOPTERA OF NEW ENOLAND. 277 
holes with the awl to allow better circulation of air and more 
rapid evaporation of moisture; place a layer of specimens on the 
bottom, heads out, sprinkle among them a little naphthulin to 
prevent mold and repel vermin, and cover with a layer of good 
quahty cotton cut to fit the box. Cotton waddinp; is more con- 
venient to use and does not adhere to the specimens so persist- 
ently, but sometimes it is not readily procurable in out-of-the- 
way localities. Two or more layers of insects may be placed in a 
box but the fewer the more rapidly do the specimens dry out and 
they then retain their color better. The upper layers may be 
laid directly upon the cotton covering the lower, but a layer of 
tissue paper between them facilitates separation when unpack- 
ing. Pack until the box is so full that specimens cannot shake 
about, cover, and tie tightly with thread or shp on a rubber band. 
On the bottom write place, date, number, and character of speci- 
mens and any other desirable data, which will then still be on 
the box when fts cover is removed while dampening. 
The boxes thus packed may be placed in an empty net and 
hung up in the breeze in the shade to dry, or any place in a cur- 
rent of warm, dry air, — over a stove or lamp in emergency. 
Care must be taken to keep them out of the way of mice, ants, 
and other vermin. When perfectly dry they may be shipped any 
distance. 
In brief, specimens must be: (1) packed so they cannot shake 
about; (2) labeled; (3) dried; (4) protected from mold and ver- 
min; (5) protected from crushing during transportation. 
If suitable boxes cannot be had, paper tubes may be made as 
follows: roll a strip around a pencil or other stick of suitable 
size, — crush in the end, insert the specimen, stuff cotton into the 
other end to prevent the insect from shaking about and falhng 
out, — if necessary crush in this end also. Write data on outside 
of tube. This method requires much more time and space than 
the use of boxes, consequently is suited to relatively small num- 
bers. If more than one specimen is placed in a tube all are 
likely to be damaged. 
Dampenixg, Pixxixg, axd Spreading. 
When ready to mount the specimens, the boxes from each 
locality or of each lot should be gathered together, the number 
