CABINETS, &C., FOR CONTAINING LEPIDOPTEEA. 15 



your new Papilio, and the only trouble you had was to put your drawers, 

 from No. 21 to the last, one drawer further down which of course is a pleas- 

 ure, for as you pull each one out to change it to its place below you at the 

 same time have the delight of feasting your eyes on its contents. 



Another plan of receptacle is to have boxes made in the form of books 

 about 12 x 9 inches in the clear, and each half If inches deep in the clear, 

 the two are joined together at the backs by a piece of stout canvas being 

 glued over it, which serves as a hinge; when closed the clean space is 2J 

 inches and the specimens can be pinned on both sides; the superficial space 

 thus occupied in a double box of above size is 18 x 12 inches; the edges 

 where they meet can be paintei occasionally with creosote to keep out de- 

 structive vermin. 



The principal objection to this plan of box is that if the greatest care be not 

 taken always in opening and shutting, the force of the air is apt to loosen the 

 wings of the examples, especially of the smaller frailer ones. 



Others have the bottoms of the drawers, in cabinets, glass as well as the 

 top, and with little bits of cork gummed to the glass to pin the insects on, or 

 else narrow strips of same material or soft wood fastened in, for same purpose, 

 from one end of the drawer to the other; this method has. the advantage of 

 allowing you to turn the box around to see the under surface of your exam- 

 ples, but the disadvantage when you want to add new material is fearful; 

 this plan is only good for a finished collection where the owner intends to add 

 nothing more, or for a local collection where you know just how many species 

 you can expect to get and can leave space for each accordingly. 



But whatever manner of box or drawer is used, the great desiderata to be 

 obtained is to keep them out of the action of sunlight and dust, also do not 

 keep them in a damp place which will engender mould, which ruins Lepi- 

 dopterous examples past all redemption. 



ENTOMOLOGICAL FORCEPS. 



Having now your cabinet you Avill want forceps with which to pin your 

 examples into the drawers; these are absolutely indispensable; I would 

 sooner do without my spectacles than my forceps, and the only decent ones I 

 have ever met with in this country are those made by Blake & Co., No. 212 

 Chester Street, Philadelphia, Pa.; a pair of their make will last you a life- 

 time, and once in your hands you would as soon think of doing without your 

 night-cap as of trying to work in your cabinet without them ; Mr. Blake, 

 himself, is a practical Entomologist and well known through his writings 

 on the N. Am. Mutilidae, &c. 



