154 PRACTICAL ENTOMOLOGY. 



collector. One thing is necessary under all circumstances, ^\hich is 

 to have the case as tight as possible to prevent the entrance of in- 

 sects that will destroy the collection. The following is a plan of a 

 cabinet for everyday use, which I have found to answer a good pur- 

 pose, being easily constructed, cheap and efficient. Almost any farm- 

 er's boy can construct such a one. It is made of two inch pine plank, 

 and measures on the inside 28 by 15 inches, and 2^ inches deep with a 

 tight bottom or back made of soft pine board, and the whole inside cov- 

 ered with strong white paper pasted on. The upper inside edge of 

 the frame is grooved ^ inch deep to let in the frames of glass doors 

 fastened to the outside by hinges. The main portion of the case 

 is 20 by 15 inches, having two glass doors hung in wooden frames 

 closing at the centre. The remaining portion, which is separated 

 from the first by a partition, has a door hung in same manner and 

 is divided into two parts, the lower one to hold the setting-board, 

 and the upper one furnished with shelves for containing the neces- 

 sary implements, vials, alcoholic specimens, &c. A piece of lump 

 camphor should always be kept in the case to assist in excluding 

 insects that devour the specimens. 



The case can of course be made smaller, to suit iconvenience, but 

 such a one will hold what specimens could probably be obtained for 

 one or two seasons. Cabinets for containing permanent collections 

 for exhibition, may be made with glass fronts and movable bottoms. 

 One I have had constructed on a new principle is as follows : Glass 

 front 20 by 28 inches — fronts five inches wide, one and a half thick, 

 pine, moulded and mitered together similar to a picture frame ; body 

 of the case three inches wide, pine board, fastened tightly to the 

 center of the front pieces with pine board bottom let into the back 

 or sides, making the case two inches deep, bottom covered with white 

 paper, remainder of case stained black walnut color and covered 

 with heavy coat of varnish. Any cabinet maker can construct one. 

 Cost about .'s2,00. As before stated, a piece of camphor must be 

 securely fastened in a piece of paper in the corner of each case con- 

 taining specimens. A good coating of spirits of turpentine is good 

 for the purpose. 



