BULLETIN 39, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. [104] 



for the change or addition of specimens, it will be found convenient to employ, for 

 the fastening of the left-hand side of the upper glass, paper lined with a thin muslin, 

 to serve as a hinge when the other sides have been cut. 



Should it become desirable to bind these cases, outside frames may be constructed 

 after the plans above given, with the omissiouof the inside quarter inch (the equiv- 

 alent of these frames), in which these may be placed and held in position by two or 

 three screws inserted in their sides. 



The Marti ndale Box for Lepidoiitmt.'Mi: Isaac 0. Martindale, in the 

 October, 1801, number of Entomoloyn-al Xewa, pp. 126, 127, describes a 

 new form of cabinet lor butterflies, the drawers of which present some 

 ne\v features. They are for the same end as the Lintuer box described 

 above namely, for the display of the upper and under surface of the 

 wings of Lepidoptera, and promise to be more useful. The drawer is 

 described as follows: 



The especial feature is the drawer itself, which, instead of having a cork bottom, 

 MS is usually the case, has both the top and bottom of glass. The top part of tin- 

 drawer frame h'ts tightly over a ledge one inch in height, effectually preventing the 

 intrusion of destructive insects, the pest of the entomologist ; but it is readily lifted 

 when it is desirable to add to the contents or change the location of the specimens. 

 For the inside arrangement I have taken a strip of common tin, one inch wide, and 

 turned up each side five-sixteenths of an inch, thus leaving three-eighths of an inch 

 for the bottom. The length of the strip of tin, being about two inches longer than 

 the width of the drawer, admits of each end being turned up one inch. Into this tin 

 trough is tightly fitted a cork strip three-eighths of an inch square. The whole being 

 covered with -white paper, such as is usually used for lining drawers, conceals tin- 

 inequalities of the cork and makes a fine finish. They should be made to fit neatly 

 in the drawer, and can be readily moved about to suit large or small specimens. For 

 Li/cwnas, Pampliilas, etc., as many as fifteen of these strips may be used in one 

 drawer, and as few as five for Horphos, CaUf/os, etc. The upturned ends are fastened 

 in place by using the ordinary thumb tacks that can be procured at any stationer's. 

 The frame work of the drawers should be of white pine, well seasoned. Into this the 

 thumb tacks are readily inserted and as easily withdrawn when a change in the posi- 

 tion of the cork strips is needed. 



Horizontal vs. vertical Arrangement of Boxes. I have elsewhere dis- 

 cussed the availability of the upright vs. the horizontal arrangement of 

 insect boxes.* In the case of Lepidoptera and large-bodied insects I 

 have found the horizontal drawer or box to be preferable. If large- 

 bodied insects are placed in a vertical position they are very liable to 

 become loose on the pins, swing from side to side, and damage them 

 selves and other specimens; but for the smaller insects of all orders. 

 the vertical arrangement is quite safe and satisfactory. If the pin is 

 slightly flattened, as described on p. 09, the danger of large specimens 

 becoming loose is to a great extent avoided. 



Lin ing for Insect Boxes. The old lining of insect boxes was the ordinary 

 sheet cork of commerce, and if a good quality of cork is procurable it 

 will answer the purpose. A better substance, however, tor the lining 

 of insect boxes is the, prepared or ground cork, which is now almost 



American Xitiiirnlixl, Vol. XV, p. lul. 1SS1, 



