( I 1902. \wi u Repori OF I III DlRl 



103 



hell is further lessened '\ bevelling its front edge .1 quarter 

 of an inch from the top. In the construction ol the flooi 



 t desidc rata was deemed to be the lighting and installa- 

 tion "i the small specimens which form so important a feature of all 

 al collections, so that they could be easily and fully 

 examined. ["he ordinary style of flat or table case 1- not will suited 

 to this). th< visitoi must bend over tl n a fatiguing 



position, the light is reflected in a glaring manner, quite a number ol 

 the specimens are beyond an easj rang< ol th< eye and thi space 



available for exhibition is no larger, but in fact smaller than the ll 



space occupied by the case. Vertical are better lighted and 



more economical ol space, but they give a hall a crowded appearance 

 and the majority of the specimens are out ol range ol tin eye. 

 irdingly a case with top sloping two ways was adopted as bi I 

 meeting tin- above needs. The cases so constructed and now 

 in use are 5 feet long, 3 feet 8 inches wide and 5 feet $y 2 inches high. 

 The base is 36 inches high, 8 inches of a portion of this being cut 

 awaj to leave legs similar to those of the vertical cases. The 

 remaining space is rilled by four tiers of drawers which are utilized to 

 hold specimens supplementary to those exhibited in the case above. 

 The case itself constructed upon this base, has a truncated A shape, 

 tin sides and ends being single lights. The side lights are 31x56 

 inches in size and represent the amount of exhibition space, no use 

 being made of the ends for display purposes. The end lights are ol 

 ground glass and with the narrow top lights aid in illuminating th< 

 interior of the case. For installing specimens each case is provided 

 with a wooden screen of the shape of a triangular prism and of such 

 a si/e ;,s to [eavi a space of 5 inches between it and the side sashes, 

 parallel with the latter. Upon this screen the specimens are installed. 



• nli. 1 fastened immediately to it, or, for the most part, glued 

 to tablets of manila board which are then laid upon the screen. The 

 mens are thus brought so clos, to the eye that they .an be 

 minutely examined. The economy of space afforded by such a 

 east is shown by the tact that 25 square feet of exhibition spi 

 and 25 cubic feet of storage space are secured on each 20 

 square feet of floor spac . The sashes of the cases are, like 



of th< vertical cases, supported by hinges fastened to the 

 rail. They are fastened by locks at the bottom. To open the 

 'a- th( sash is swung up and held by struts swinging from the i' 

 of the case. All the openings being felted, th. case is dust-proof. 

 In both th. vertical and floor cases the glass used is plate and th. 



