

4 I—COLLECTING AND OBSERVING. 
required, or the number of species, the eards relating to 
each species found in that loeality could be quickly taken 
out of the series, and the required list at once compiled. 
Again it might be desired to ascertain the species occurring 
during certain months in the year, and this information 
could be immediately obtained by a reference to the cards. 
A list of the species attached to any particular plant, or 
class of country, could also be arrived at in a similar 
manner. 
Tn the case of new species it is important that the type 
specimen, from which the original description, or figure, 
has been prepared, should be known with certainty. To 
secure this every such specimen should be labelled ‘‘ Type,”’ 
and the name of the insect, and initials of deseriber added. 
Some authors call the original type specimen the holotype, 
and the first specimen described of the opposite sex the 
allotype. The term paratype may be applied to any other 
specimens before the deseriber at the time of making out 
the deseription. 
The question of a suitable entomological cabinet is 
mainly one of expense, but the young collector will do well 
to use every effort te obtain a thoroughly good cabinet from 
the best maker, as the labour entailed in making a good 
collection is so great, that any failure to adequately house 
and preserve it will ultimately prove the reverse of 
economy. Specimens are finally arranged in rows in the 
cabinet drawers, the name of the genus being at the head 
of each row and the name of the species under each series 
of specimens belonging to the same species. The exact 
method of arrangement may at once be seen by referring 
1o any standard entomologiecal collection in our principal 
museums. To facilitate necessary alterations in arrange- 
ment, it is very desirable that all cabinet drawers should be 
made interchangeable. Unless provided with special 
eamphor cells, each cabinet drawer should have a piece of 
camphor securely pinned in one corner. It is also necessary 
to fumigate the entire collection, at least twice a year, in 
order to guard against the ravages of ‘‘ mites ’’ (Psoc?) 
and mould. For mites a mixture of equal parts of oil of 
anise, oil of thyme and spirits of wine, placed on a pellet 
of wool in a watch glass in each drawer, will be found 
effective and pleasant to use. For mould, pure glacial 
carbolie acid should be employed; the bottle containing the 
frozen acid must be put in hot water, and a small quantity 
of the melted acid placed on cotton wool and applied in the 
same way as the aniseed preparation. Camphor should, 
however, always be removed from any drawer which is 
being fumigated with carbolie, otherwise it will partially 
liquefy and spoil the paper lining of the drawers. Mould 
may be removed from infected specimens by the careful 
use of methylated spirits, which must be sparingly applied 
with a camel-hair brush. 
Every entomologist should keep a diary in which he 
can record any observations made on insects during his 
rambles. Also particulars in regard to life histories 
presently to be described. The diary should be indexed at 
end of each year so that any information contained in it 
ean be immediately found. 
The best localities for entomological work in New 
Zealand are those situated away from settlement and of a 
diversified character. A combination of mountain, forest, 
river-bed and tussock land is, of course, excellent, and any 
one of these classes of country is well worth working if 
untouched by cultivation. A few species also frequent the 
sea coast, but the sea is not an important feature as far as 
the Lepidopterist is concerned. Chapter III., dealing with 
the habits of the Lepidoptera, will give the reader a fair 
idea of the class of country where he is likely to obtain the 
best collecting. 
With regard to the best special localities there can be 
no doubt that, generally speaking, the South Island is 
very much richer in species than the North Island. Ail 
mountains over 3,500 feet in elevation are deserving of 
special attention, as we here find the very numerous and 
peculiar alpine and sub-alpine forms not procurable on the 
lowlands. Mountains rising out of dense forests, such as 
those extending along the West Coast of the South Island, 
are always very productive. Of special localities in New 
Zealand, suitable for collecting, the following may be 
mentioned as likely to yield interesting results, at the 
proper season, and under favourable weather conditions :— 
(1). The forest districts North of Auckland. 
(2). The forests and the tussock plains of the central 
plateau of the North Island, (Waiouru, Ohakune, 
Waimarino; also Mount Ruapehu). 
(3). Mount Egmont. Personally I have found this 
isolated mountain very unproductive. 
(4). The Tararua Ranges North of Wellington. 
(5). The Chatham Islands. 
(6). The Tableland of Mt. Arthur. (Probably one of 
the best entomological localities in New Zealand 
at present known). 
(7). The Dun Mountain and other ranges East of 
Nelson. 
(8). Arthur’s Pass and the Otira River. (A very fine 
and most accessible locality). 
(9). The ranges and glacial moraines around the Mt. 
Cook Hermitage. (Another very fine locality but 
imperfectly worked at present). 
(10). The whole of the Lake Wakatipu region around 
and beyond Queenstown. (This is a well-worked 
but excellent district). 
(11). The country around Invercargill, especially the 
numerous patches of forest which remain intact. 
(12). Seaward Moss near Awarua Bay, Invercargill. 
This fenland has produced several very inter- 
esting species, which are either very scarce, or not 
found elsewhere. 
(13). Orepuki, including Longwood Range, The Hump 
and the country around, 

