LEPIDOPTEROUS INSECTS 249 



and has now stood the test for live years, so I think it 

 will hold out- 



1 omitted to mention that the little rounded strips of 

 wood (Fig. 1 («)) for the front and the handles, are 

 best glned and nailed on before the glass is fixed. The 

 handles I make of inch-wood, planed first with a slant- 

 ing edge; then the notch is made at suitable places with 

 chisel and raps, and then they are cut up and finished 

 off. 



To finish the woodwork I apply a coat of varnish stain 

 to the front only; it is hardly worth while to do tho 

 whole box. The bottom of the box sliould next be lined 

 with a soft material which is glued to the veneer and 

 neatly covered with white paper. A piece of thin card-, 

 board is glued in one or more corners (Fig. 8) ; this is 

 afterwards perforated and filled with naphthaline. At 

 the same time the inner sides of the box are covered with 

 white paper. For lining the bottoms, T prefer the i-incii 

 linoleum of the finest grain obtainable. Tt has the ad- 

 vantage over cork of being homogenous and having no 

 holes. Besides, it can usually be obtained locally. 

 German peat is unsuitable as it is liable to corrode the 

 pins and absorbs moisture, which may again be given off 

 to the insects. Pith can never be trusted, as it usually 

 corrodes the pin. 



After well filling the naphthaline-pocket, next proceed 

 to divide the drawer into the parallel columns of equal 

 size by means of a drawing-pen and India ink. (Fig. 11.) 



The drawers are placed in cabinets in two rows ea-^h 

 of 10 or 12 drawers. Two such cabinets may be placed 

 on top of each other, thus forming one piece of furniture 

 yei being of convenient size and weight to handle when 

 they have to be removed. The drawers slide on metal or 

 wooden ledges in such a way that there is the least pos- 

 sible space between each drawer; this in order to exclude- 

 light and dust. For the last purpose some entomologists 

 prefer doors to their cabinets, but for a collection which 

 is consulted frequently I think doors rather trouble- 

 some. 



