E. Vj. CtRREN 105 



The drawers of my cabinet have an inside measurement of 17x10 

 X2 inches deep, each of which will hold six rows of 3(\ 15, 8 or 4 boxes, 

 according to the size. With the exception of the largest size, the boxes 

 stand edgeways in the drawer. 



Each box should be reserved for a single species only, but may con- 

 tain several gatherings of that species. The name of each species should 

 be clearly indicated on the cover of its particular box. The various 

 genera will naturally be grouped in their respective families, but it will 

 be found convenient to arrange the species alphabetically, under their 

 respective genera. A snuill (juantity of finely powdered naphthalin should 

 be placed in each box, and renewed periodically. If preferred, naph- 

 thalin dissolved in petrol or benzine may be employed. A few drops of 

 this liquid will spread over the bottom of the box and, upon evapora- 

 tion, will leave a fine deposit of naphthalin which has the advantage 

 of not shifting its position when the boxes are placed on edge. 



Specimens preserved in a liquid medium (for which alcohol of about 

 80 % or formalin diluted to about 3 % may be employed wnth satis- 

 factory results) must be kept in tightly corked tubes. These do not 

 lend themselves so conveniently to arrangement in the general collection. 

 They must be stored in separate racks, or in boxes fitted with compart- 

 ments for the purpose. 



Glass slides with microscopical preparations can be stored in any 

 of the various forms of boxes or cases designed for the purpose. I use 

 cases made in book form, each case containing 50 slides, with an index 

 on the inside of the cover. >Such cases can be arranged like volumes on 

 book shelves. 



Surplus material should always be retained, for purposes of exchange. 

 Great convenience and economy of time will be experienced if such 

 duplicates are at once portioned out and placed in labelled envelopes, 

 ready for distribution when required, instead of being stored in bulk. 

 When an application for specified duplicates is made by some corre- 

 spondent, the time required to go through a large collection, separate 

 out the required material, do it up in packets and label it, is often greater 

 than can be given at the time. The task is therefore postponed for 

 some more favourable opportunity which may be indefinitely delayed. 

 I keep all my duplicate material in small labelled envelopes which are 

 stored (alphabetically) in tin boxes made especially to fit them. Any 

 species can then be found instantly and is ready, without further 

 attention, for distribution. 



