406 



METUOD OF PEESERVING LEPIDOPTERA. 



Fis. 2. 



white pine, ready planed by the carpenter, to the dimensions of one inch and 

 an eighth in width, and three sixteenths of an inch in thickness. 

 These slips are cut to the proper length, and fastened in the form 

 of a rectangle by common pins at the corners, as shown in Fig. 2. 

 Previous, however, to forming the slips of wood into frames, they 

 are coated on all sides with tinfoil, which is attached by means of 

 the cement above described, omitting the coloring matter. I find 

 it convenient to keep on hand while preparing these cases a supply 

 of tinfoil, coated on one side ready, when required, to be cut into 

 slips of the proper size. The coating of cement is put on by means of a brush 

 dipped into the melted material. 



Another plan, and I believe the best one, is to have the cement enclosed in a mus- 

 lin bag, which may be tied to the end of a short stick ; the tinfoil is to be spread out 

 on a hot iron plate, say the top of a stove, when the 

 bag containing the cement is rubbed over its surface, and 

 the heat being sufficient to melt the wax and resin, the 

 foil may be evenly coated, and on removal from the hot 

 metal plate, as it cools quickly, may then be rolled up 

 and kept in readiness to bccut in suitable pieces for use, 

 Ffg. 3 exhibits a box thus formed, of which a, b, c, 

 d are the wooden sides covered with tinfoil, and e the 

 glass plate, on the inside of which are placed the paper 

 numbers covered by the cork supports. The next step 

 in the process is to transfer the butterflies in the pre- 

 liminary box to their several supports on the glass plate, and to securely pin 

 them to the cork so as not to fall off in the ordinary handling of the cabinet. 

 After this the box is to be permanently closed with a glass cover of the same 

 dimensions as the one which forms the bottom, and the whole fastened air-tight 

 by means of the tinfoil. By this arrangement the specimens are hermetically 

 sealed between two parallel panes of plate glass, which allow the under as 

 well as the upper surfaces of the insect to be seen, while the whole is preserved 

 from atmospheric changes and the ravages of insects. 



The cases containing the specimens are now' furnished, so far as the means of 

 preserving the contents are concerned, but this case itself requires to be guarded 



from injury and kept free of dust. For 

 this purpose it is placed in an outer case, 

 which I prefer to make in the form of a 

 book with covers, which, on opening, ex- 

 hibit the glass plates and the contents of 

 the case. On the inner surfaces of these 

 covers I write, or print, the names of the 

 specimens therein contained. 



All the cases which form the whole 

 cabinet are arranged in an ordinary book- 

 case with glass doors, and when properly 

 ornamented on the back resemble a series 

 of large octavo volumes. The cases 

 should always be kept like books in a case, 

 in an upright position, and never allowed 

 to lie on their sides, except when in use. The reason for this will be obvious: 

 the perfect Dermestcs might find a small hole in the tinfoil wherein to enter, or, 

 deposit its eggs; but should the glass be upright, neither the old nor the young 

 depredators would be able to climb up to the specimens, which they possibly 

 might reach if the case should lie on its side. 



Thirty-five years' experience with cases made as above described has proved 

 the correctness of the theory of their construction. 



Fis;. 4. 



