14: THE entomologist's KECOHD. 



begun from Ijotli the first and the last draA\'ers, as an idea of the spaee 

 at disposal for each s^ieeies is then more (|uiekly acquired. Where space 

 will permit do not ])e afraid to allow plenty, even to species tliat may 

 at the time rank amongst our greatest desiderata ; for ^vho, a fcAV years 

 ago, would have left a C(,ilumn for such sj^ecies as Plusia oricltaJcea, 

 Ennomos anfumnaria otc.'? therefore whenever 2X)ssil>le err (m the safe 

 side of too much sjiace rather tlian too little. At the present time, it 

 looks as if we may soon recjuire space in all our cabinets for Plusia 

 moneta, whilst among the Caradrinidce, more intelligent working will 

 doubtless ere long cause our present members of the genus in many 

 old cabinets, to be uncomfortably elljowed and jostled by new-comers. 

 As an aid in allotting space, of course, access to a friend's well-arranged 

 cabinet is the most valualde, but for the information of those not so 

 favoured, the following notes may l)e of service. Supposing a column be 

 allotted to each sjiecies, and drawers to measure about 17 in. wide, it 

 will require nine drawers for the Ruopalocera, of wliicli tlie Pieridre 

 and Colias (with G. rhamni) will occu})y the first two. the Fritillaries 

 mainly the next two, the Blues just securing No. S. and the Skippers 

 and Coppers the last. In my own arrangement I have occasionally 

 varied, l)y only allotting lialf a column to sjiecies of small size, and not 

 of a tendency to much variation, thus my '• Footmen " and allied species, 

 comfortably occupy a single draAver (No. 14), in half-columns; this is 

 invaluable when exhil)iting any particular family, as it avoids having 

 to move two drawers with part of a family in each. In this way, the 

 " Tigers " occupy their own draAver (No 16), in Avhole columns, and 

 the beauty of this arrangement Avill at once be grasped bj' those Avho 

 may haA-e the })leasure of shoAving non-entomological " sisters, cousins 

 and aunts," their treasured collections, the glaring splendours of this 

 draAver, causing a A-erital)le enthusiasm, Avhich is welcome after the A'ery 

 cold reception of our greatest rarities in tlie dull " ( "aradrinas " and 

 dowdy '' Pugs." In this arrangement, the Noctu.k sliould commence 

 in (about) draAver N(T. 24, and Avill occupy about 29 draAvers, tlius, if 

 tAvo 32-draAver cabinets are dcA'oted to Macros, leaAing tAvelve draAvers 

 for the Geometers, Avhich Avill entail allotting only half-columns to all 

 the smaller meml)ers of the group (but Avith small " WaAcs " and " Pugs " 

 this is an adA^antage rather than otherAvise) but at the same time, the 

 Macros really deserA'e (Avith column series in most instances) at least 

 72 draAvers, viz., a 40-draAver and a 32-draAver caltinet. In arranging 

 on this scale, a A-ery little forethought Avill soon discoA'er adA^antages to 

 be secured in allotting s])ecial drawers to single genera ; thus in my 

 case, the Triphcenidce occupy (and Avell till) a draAver to themsehes, and 

 the .E«7:'/</«ec/6E just secure another; but to do this, extra spaces Avill 

 often liaA'c to be left in neighbouring drawers, and liere a Avord of ad- 

 vice Avill l)e iiiA'aluable to lieginners. Find out Avhich species are 

 constant and Avliicli are A'ariable and act accordingly ; thus to sucli 

 species as JY. jjoli/odon, T. orboita, A. tritici, ctirsoria, ripce (and .some 

 others of this genus), H. pisi, stiasa, adusta, H. ehitata, not to mention 

 such aberrant species as C caja,ii\\{\ A. (jrossnlariata (to Avliich advancetl 

 collectors allot special draAvers) leaA'e, if possil)le, a little extra sj)ace, 

 which may be safely taken from such as D. pinastri, N. triangnlnm, anrl 

 many others. Another A'ery necessary word of cauti(in is as regards 

 some standard for the maximum expanse of wing in each species, Avhich 

 should ahvays be fully alloAved for Avhen measuring the Avidths of the 



HJ1 ;.,J 



