COLLECTING AND l'KKSKKVTNG INSECTS BA X KS. 



107 



The Museum of Comparative Zoology keeps its insects in drawers 

 15 by IS inches, inside measurement. The drawers are in double 

 cabinets with hinged doors, holding nine drawers each. No cork 

 is used in the bottom, which is made of soft wood, so that a pin may 



Fig. 165.— The II. S. National Museum drawer, showing arrangement of specimens. 



be inserted into it. The tops are of glass, and the frame has a groove 

 which fits very tightly over a tongue from below. The tops are 

 held down closely by hooks and eyes. Professor Comstock usi . . a 

 drawer with glass bottom as well as top. A number of small flat 



Fig. 166.— Construction of the insect cabinet drawer of the u. S. National Museum : A . Cross- 

 section of front; B, same of side: (', view of front exd of side, two-thirds natural size. 

 a, Bottom; b, cork lining; c, inside strip forming naphthalene poison ■ sambi b; ^naphtha- 

 lene poison chamber; /, top; g, groove. 



blocks, arranged in rows, cover the bottom. The cork is fastened 

 to each block. One species or genus can be pinned on each block 

 and the block transferred to a different part of the box, if desired, 

 without handling the specimens. 



