178 Three Young Crusoes 



The Insect Collection 



Henry had seen the beautiful museum collections 

 of insects in New York, but it took considerable ex- 

 perimenting before he and William could even be- 

 gin one of their own. Instead of pins, they had to 



Fig. Gt,. The centipede; one half natural size. 



use thorns, cactus spines, and bamboo fibers sharp- 

 ened to a fine point. Instead of cork or peat, corn- 

 stalk pith, corkwood, and slices of the flowering 

 stalks of yucca and agave were used. 



As a substitute for glue, they gathered fresh pine 

 resin, gum chicle, and cashew gum, the last being 

 excellent because it dissolved in water and also kept 

 the insect pests away. They had no naphthalene, 

 but used Spanish cedar and red cedar wood to pre- 

 vent insect attack, or bamboo sections with chips of 

 camphor wood. For labels, thin strips of pine wood 

 seemed to be the best. 



They were careful to preserve only perfect spec- 

 imens, with not even a foot gone or a scale ruffled. 



