Article beginning on page 107.
Psyche 11:107, 1904.

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ft is the common practice of entomologists to arrange collections of insects in boxes lined with white paper. Against such a background the darker specimens stand out in sharp relief, and the effect is certainly pleasing. With no expectation of bringing about the general abandonment of this practice, but merely with a view to introducing a useful alternative, I submit these notes on the advantages attend- ing the use of black backgrounds.
Specimens of lepidoptera exposed to strong tight are almost sure to fade, and every entomologist will recall museum collections in which many of the species are quite misrepresented by the bleached examples on view. I think it is generally recognized that the white paper behind the specimens, acting as a reflector, materi- ally hastens the fading process. Indeed it has been found that lepidoptera dis- played in any of the various patent mounts in which the wings are closely applied to a white surface keep their colors appreciably longer than those elevated on pins above the bottom of a white-lined case. In the patent mounts the reflector is smothered so far as its action on the specimens is concerned. The reflection from white backgrounds is fatiguing to the eyes of anyone who has occasion to examine closely a long series of specimens. This is a more serious difficulty, since it renders unnecessarily wearisome the study of any collection kept in whitelined drawers or boxes. The use of tints interferes with the correct analysis of the colors of the specimens. If white is to be abandoned, the obvious substitute is black.
For black backgrounds I have used a good quality of coated paper, which may be bought from dealers in school supplies in sheets measuring 24 x a0 inches. The price is four cents per sheet. This paper has a slight gloss, but the objections to this are offset by the hard, smooth quality of the surface. It may not prove to be very durable, for coated papers are apt to be disappointing in this respect. A more expensive paper might be found which would give longer service. Specimens displayed against the black background look well, the white and yellow butterflies in particular making a fine appearance. Dark species are not unduly obscured. There is no fatiguing glare, and the risk of damage to valuable specimens through exposure to light is considerably diminished-



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[October
ins of insects in
arker specimens
1 no expectation
rely with a view
rantag s attend-
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: the species are
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reflector, materi-
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the reflector is
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mage to valuable
PROCEEDINGS OF THE CLUB
107
4
PROCEEDINGS OF THE CLUB.
THE 238th regular meeting of the Club was held in the Council room on the evening of June 21, 1904.
President Emerton in the chair; sixteen members present.
Mr. Blackburn showed a large longicorn beetle (CaZ/Ipo~on sp.) cap- tured near a fruit store in Boston.
Mr. Sampson showed a remarkable mon-
strosity in the shape of a five-winged cecropia, Mr. Denton exhibited, butterflies
mounted to illustrate protective resemblance, and Mr. Blackburn showed a collec- tion of moths obtained at lights near his house. Mr. Low exhibited a specimen of
My& hentsii, and Mr. Johnson spoke on variation in the wing-venation of the Tipulid Amahpis isuowtans. On the arrival of the Secretary, who was late, the record of the last meeting was read and accepted; after which the meeting was adjourned.
By invitation of Mr. Emerton, the 239th regular meeting was held at 194 Clar- endon Street on the evening of September 20, 1904. The President in the chair; eleven members present. The record of the last meeting was read and accepted. On behalf of the Publication Committee, Mr. Field reported recent sales of back volumes of PSYCHE. Mr. Ernerton and Mr. Denton told of the plans thus far made for the exhibition. Mr. Johnson offered to lend boxes to exhibitors, and to receive exhibits sent to Boston by out-of-town exhibitors. Mr. Blackburn showed a very large number of specimens of Lepidoptera recently added to the collfcction he is forming of species taken within the limits of a single city block in Woburn Mr. Newcomb told of some recent observations on the temperature-control of the chirping of crickets. Mr. Rogers reported the cap-
ture of Pieris rapae and Cdhs phihdue in copulation. Mr. Johnson exhibited larvae, pupae and images of the Tipulid Limnobia iriocehta, obtained from fungi at Riverside, and also showed enlarged drawings of the larva and pupa. Mr. Frost reported the capture of Cicimieh hcttfzii in Framingham, near the Wayland line. Mr. Ernei-ton showed photographs of the tracks made by various insects in the sand at Ipswich, - one of them, the Iawa of Vanessa &@a, which he had found feeding on the grass Ammofhila arenaria. The meeting was adjourned at 9.20.
A special meeting was held at 194 Clarendon Street, on Tuesday evening, September 27, 1904. Attendance, fourteen. Mr. Emerton presided, and Messrs. Nathan Banks and A- N. Caudell were present as guests. The meeting was
devoted to informal conversation, the principal topic being the influence of temper- ature on the stridulation of orthoptera. W. L. W. FIELD, Secrttctry,




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