The Collector at Work 
a fact due, probably, to the fairly high and steady 
temperature. ‘Their presence was not difficult to 
account for: hay is the food of the larve, and there 
was hay in abundance in the stables; doubtless the 
eggs of the insect had been transferred to the mine 
with the hay. In such a retreat the larve would not 
have to reckon with enemies like sparrows and ichneu- 
mon flies. We also found two or three specimens of 
Tinea which came from the beams of the stables. 
The method of setting and preserving moths is the 
same as that followed in dealing with butterflies, and as 
the subject is treated of in “ British Butterflies ” of this 
series we must refer the student to it for details. But 
the method employed in killing moths is quite different. 
Moths are, or should be, all boxed in separate pill-boxes 
on the scene of action—one moth, one box, which 
must not be too small. Nested chip, cardboard, or the 
dearer and stronger boxes styled “shouldered,” are all 
about equally popular. The scarlet cardboard boxes 
can be made more lasting by strengthening the bottoms 
and lids with brown paper stuck on with glue. It is a 
good plan to carry a few glass-topped boxes on all 
occasions. Females or doubtful specimens can be 
leisurely and correctly examined through the glass, and 
either retained or liberated as one decides, These 
boxes can be obtained at moderate cost from dealers, 
It is essential that the moths should not be allowed 
to remain fluttering in the confinement of the boxes 
any longer than necessary, otherwise they will become 
rubbed and spoiled for cabinet purposes. And, as we 
26 
