In humid tropical countries, where the ubiquitous ants are likely to
destroy specimens before they are ready to be packed away, drying-cages,
suspended from the roof of a hut or tent, are absolutely necessary.
These can be readily made from old packing-cases, but a few square feet
of wire gauze must be provided for the back and front of the cages, and
the cord by which they are suspended must be threaded through a small
calibash containing oil, or, better still, naphthaline, to prevent ants
from descending from the roof. The cages may be so arranged as to be
taken to pieces and put together again readily; one, for birds, should
be about 2 feet 6 inches long by 1 foot 6 inches high and 1 foot broad;
the other, for insects and other small specimens, may be about one-third
less. They should have folding doors in front, with panels of wire gauze,
and the backs wholly of the latter material; the sides fitted with racks
to hold six or eight plain shelves, which in the smaller cage should be
covered with cork, or any soft wood that can be obtained in tropical
countries. A strong ring fixed in the top of the cage, with a cord having
a hook attached at the end by which to hang it in an airy place, will
keep the contained specimens out of harm’s way until they are quite dry,
when they may be stowed away in suitable close-fitting boxes. An even
simpler and perfectly effective plan is to take a number of pieces of
stout wire each about 18 inches long, bend each end into a loop, and
round the middle solder a funnel-shaped piece of tin to contain powdered
candle-naphthaline. The upper loop of each wire can be secured with
string to a rafter, and between the lower loops flat boards, or a series
of boards, can be suspended on which skins may be placed to dry. This
method has been proved to be safe, no ants ever venturing to cross the
naphthaline.
A few yards of india-rubber waterproof sheeting may be found useful as a
temporary covering to collections in wet weather or in crossing rivers.
To those who have had little or no experience in field-collecting it may
be useful to give some idea of the impedimenta considered absolutely
essential for an ordinary day’s work when it is desired to collect, as
far as possible, in all branches of zoology, and the most convenient
means of disposing of such. The collector should be accompanied, if
possible, by two intelligent natives to act as bearers, who may, with
patience, be developed into useful assistant-collectors.
A 12-bore gun or rifle, according to circumstances, with ammunition, to
be carried by the first bearer.
A ·410 collecting gun and twenty-five cartridges, including a few
cartridges with full loads of 8 shot: the cartridges to be carried by
self, the gun, when not in use, to be carried by the second bearer. The
10 shot and 12 shot ·410 cartridges should be carried in the two lower
waistcoat pockets, where they are easily accessible, and the few 8 shot
cartridges in some other pocket.
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