This is for Butterfly Collectors.
You say, "Some prefer to set insects on pins arranged to show their colors to the best advantage, but this is not so good a plan from a scientific point of view." Do you mean that you do not advise us to transfix the butterflies on pins? What should we use in place of pins? Is there any cure for "mites" besides camphor? How can you protect your specimens from ants? Is not chloroform as effective and less dangerous than the cyanide of potassium as a killing agent? When you go butterfly-hunting in the country, is there any particular box to keep them in until you get home? Must the contents of the bodies of the big moths and butterflies be taken out? Must their proboscis be stretched before they are stiff?
Elizabeth Castles.
New Orleans, La.
The very best plan is to raise your butterflies from the caterpillar. Then you get the best specimens—best in plumpness and in color. In arranging them in a collection, use the pins, of course. What we meant to say is that arranging them in the form of stars, crosses, etc., is not the best from a scientific point of view, because when so arranged they are distributed according to color. It is better to arrange by groups, male and female, egg, caterpillar, pupa, and cocoon if it makes one.
Camphor is the best for mites and ants. Used freely, it ought to prevent both. Chloroform is not as good as cyanide of potassium. The latter need not be dangerous. To carry your butterflies home in, some provide a tin box, light, with plenty of light cotton for packing. Contents of bodies cannot be taken out and the fly preserved in good shape. The proboscis should be stretched before the fly is stiff. When putting on the fastening-board, get into as natural position as possible. Self-reared butterflies should be killed as soon as their wings are expanded and they are perfectly dry.