CO885-(20-21) — Page 131

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

TELEC.O.

Reference :-

885

j

20 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO

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glass-bottomed boxes, In dry localities a killing-bottle will often become weak and Ineffective-this may be remedied by pouring into it a few drops of vinegar or soda-water.

A few small camel's hair brushes (sizes Nos. 1 and 2), for catching and handling Heas and other small insects.

Curved nickel-plated forceps, for handling pinned insects, &c. Unpinned insects should be touched us little as possible with the fingers; they should be picked up either with the forceps or å camel's hair brush.

A pocket lens. This should magnify about 10 or 15 diameters; higher powers are not so generally useful.

Coleoptera collecting bottles.-These bottles are made flat for the pocket and have a small glass tube through the cork. They are convenient for bringing home alive the smaller species of beetles, which may then be killed in boiling water. The bottle should contain some leaves or a piece of crumpled muslin for the insects to cling to, and the inner surface of the cork should be covered with sealing-wax, to prevent insects burrowing into it.

Glass tubes for spirit specimens.-The corks should be of good quality and waxed to prevent evaporation of the spirit. insects as fleas, bed-bugs, ticks, ants, termites (white ants), and the Such immature forms of plant-bugs should always be preserved in spirits or formalin.

Collecting boxes for pinned insects.-If the ordinary deal store- boxes are used, they should be given a good cost of varnish or enamel paint on arrival, otherwise they are apt to warp and split in the dry season; the tops and bottoms should also be secured with screws, as they are liable to become detached in the tropics. For transmission by post cigar-boxes lined with cork-carpet may be used; provided they have been first strengthened by nailing pieces of wood on the inside of the short sides (to support the ends of the lid), and by tacking cross-strips on the top and bottom.

Pins. In general, it is unnecessary to pin insects for transmis- sion to England, for unpinned specimens travel much more safely. But in the case of Diptera (two-winged flies), pinning is generally the more satisfactory method (for alternative methods, see special instructions for Diptera). The smallest moths should also be pinned. The pins recommended are those manufactured by D. F. Taylor & Co., the short No. 20 for all Diptera smaller than a house-fly, the short No. 10 for larger ones up to the size of a blue-bottle (in both these cases the insects must be staged on card discs), and for still larger insects the long No. 22 may be used with- out staging; No. 16 pins are the most convenient as supports for the card discs, and may also be used for the bulkiest flies.

Card discs. These need be used only for smaller flies, especially with long legs, such as mosquitoes, &c. For details, see instructions for collecting Diptera.

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Paper envelopes for butterflies and moths.-These may be easily constructed, as shown in the accompanying diagrams (figs. 3-7). Soft paper should never be used for making the envelopes. They may also be conveniently used for dragon-flies, and the more sleuder wasps, ichneumons, &c. Only one insect should be placed in each envelope. In the case of Lepidoptera the insect should always be packed with its wings closed above the thorax (see fig. 1).

FIG. 1.

Correct position. Wings closed above the thorax.

FIG. 3.

F10: 5.

FIG. 2.

Incorrect position.

Wings inverted below the thorax.

D

FIG. 6.

F10. 4.

FIG. 7.

Diagrams illustrating the construction of paper envelopes for Lepidoptera.

Paper envelopes for Diptera, Hymenoptera, &c.-These are some- times called "cushion envelopes," and should be made of fairly thin

soft paper as follows: Take a rectangular piece of size, and write on it all particulars of capture. Then fold the paper paper of suitable