COLLECTIONS OF INSECTS, ETC. 173 



axiom that the true use of a collection is for reference, and that 

 that collection is the best which is the most useful. 



Our collection should consist not only of specimens of each 

 species, both male and female, exhibiting both the upper and 

 under sides, but also any peculiar variation, and all those peculiar- 

 ities of structure on which the genus is founded ought to be 

 clearly shown, and the specimens should be in such a form as to 

 be readily available for examination at any moment without our 

 feeling that we are pulling our collection to pieces or incurring any 

 risk of damaging our specimens. It is to point out how I think 

 this end may be attained, and how a collection may be made 

 which shall be useful as well as ornamental, that this paper has 

 been written. 



As I collect and study beetles only, it is about them in parti- 

 cular that I purpose speaking, but the same methods may be 

 adopted with other insects with, perhaps, some slight modi- 

 fications. In the first place, whatever plan or method we may 

 adopt to render our collection useful for reference and the speci- 

 mens easy of access, we must have a collection arranged in boxes 

 or drawers in the usual way — that is, in order of classification, and 

 with spaces for the whole of the known British species, so that we 

 may place an insect in its proper position as soon as it is deter- 

 mined without shifting any other specimen. This plan obviously 

 has its advantages ; besides, the larger species could hardly be 

 treated in any other manner. As I before pointed out, we ought 

 to have male and female specimens of each species, exhibiting both 

 the upper and under sides ; and those insects which fly should be 

 represented by at least one specimen of each sex, with wings 

 extended ; but in addition to this, I think, a dissection of some of 

 the larger and typical species, so arranged as to clearly show every 

 part of the external structure of the insects, would be of immense 

 advantage. In fact, a reference collection can scarcely be con- 

 sidered complete without it, as we should then be able to ascer- 

 tain the form and structure of any part, without, as is now usually 

 done, taking a specimen and picking it to pieces, and thereby 

 destroying it. 



So far, it is very much on the lines usually carried out by all 

 collectors, although I have seen some extensive collections in 



