THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST 241 



very few exceptions, are kept together in one cabinet. The bulk of 

 the British collection was formed during the owner's schoolboy days, 

 over twenty years ago. Special attention has always been given 

 to the Lepidoptera of x^lberta, and allied species have been acquired 

 from time to time from other parts of the continent in order to 

 get a better understanding of local forms. But a chief specialty 

 has now long been made of the Noctuidae of North America, 

 which comprise by far the greater portion of the collection. Very 

 many of these have been obtained by purchase or exchange. 



The room in which the collection is kept is comparatively 

 large and very well lighted. The presence of a good light is most 

 desirable for making critical studies, the absence of it giving rise 

 to false conceptions. The collection itself is contained partly in 

 cabinets, and partly in wooden store boxes. The drawers of the 

 largest cabinets measure about eighteen inches wide, and about 

 twenty-four from front to back. Such a large size has many ad- 

 vantages, especially for long series, but has been found rather 

 unwieldy and awkward in practice. About seventeen or eighteen 

 inches square seems more generally serviceable. About half the boxes 

 are twelve inches by twenty, and double-sided; that is, each box 

 contains usable space of twenty-three by nearly nineteen inches. 

 These have considerable advantages over large cabinet drawers 

 by reason of their lightness, though fiat drawers, if not too heav\' 

 are actually safer. The smallest boxes are ten inches square and 

 single-sided. 



The paper, or occasionally the bare cork, as well as the sides 

 of the cases, are first covered with a paint consisting of oxide of 

 zinc and gelatine, applied hot. This, besides being an excellent 

 way of renovating a stained or dirty box, increases the whiteness 

 of even the best new paper, and greatly improves the light. 



The greater part of the Noctuidae were recently re-arranged. 

 Sir George Hampson's generic names being used, with occasional 

 slight alterations in the sequence for greater convenience and 

 economy of box room. But the order of species in many of the 

 genera is more in accordance with the owner's own conception of 

 relationship. Hampson's specific names have also been used, with 

 certain changes deemed necessary. The specimens are in double 

 rows, males being placed on the left of a column, and females on 



