108 CARE OF A COLLECTIOX. 



the cover may be screwed very close and the crack pasted like 

 the others. Under other and usual circumstances the lid may 

 be provided with a metal boss fitting a groove lined with India 

 rubber or filled with wax. An excellent case ma}- be made of 

 tin with the lids secured in this manner, and further fortified 

 with a wooden casing. Birdskins entirely free from insects or 

 their eggs, encased in some such secure manner, will remain in- 

 tact indefinitely ; but there is misery in store if any bugs or nits 

 be put away with them. When many boxes are stored or 

 forwarded, much time and inconvenience may be saved by 

 labelling each with a summary of contents, or with a number 

 referring to an inventory. 



§57. Cabinets. As a matter of fact, most collections are 

 kept readily accessible for examination, displa}'- or other im- 

 mediate use, and this precludes any disposition of them in 

 "hermetical" cases. The most we can do is to secure tight 

 fitting of movable woodwork. The "cabinet" is most eligible 

 for private collections. This is, in effect, simply a bureau, or 

 chest of drawers, protected with folding doors, or a front that 

 may be detached, either of plain wood or sashing for panes of 

 glass. It is simplj' astonishing how many birdskins of average 

 size can be accommodated in a cabinet that makes no incon- 

 venient piece of furniture for an ordinary room. A cabinet 

 may of course be of any desired size, shape and style. In gen- 

 eral it will be better to put money into excellence of fitting 

 rather than elegance of finish : the handsomest front does not 

 compensate for a crack in the back or for a drawer that hitches. 

 There should not be the slightest flaw in the exterior, and doors 

 should fit so tightly that a puff of air may be felt on closing 

 them. The greatest desideratum of the interior work, next 

 after close fitting yet smooth running of the drawers, is econ- 

 omy of space. This is secured by making the drawers as thin 

 as is consistent with stabilit}' ; by having them slide by a boss 

 at each end fitting a groove in the side wall, instead of resting 

 on horizontal partitions ; and by hinged countersunk handles 

 instead of knobs. I do not recommend, except for a suite of 



