NOTEts ON COLLECTING, ETC 



15 



€(iluiniis. Tlie figures in the standard works are of neecssity not to 

 be depended on, as it rarely happens that the largest individual of any 

 species was availaljle to the draughtsman, and a small margin should 

 always be allowed, and even this is often overstepped, particularly in 

 the Greometers, where I have bred A. prmmria vividly in my memory. 

 An invaluable aid would Ite afforded if the maximum expanse of wing- 

 were given as an addendum to the next "• Exchange List " which may 

 be Ijrought out, or to go further, if a sketch or draft of the most 

 suitable arrangements of Macros for the ordinary stock size, 30 and 40 

 drawer cabinets were to be given, Itut this is beyond the hmits of the 

 present few notes. 



Next, as to dividing the columns and guiding the eye, many plans 

 are in use, each recommending itself to its supporters, and of which 

 the most reprehensible to me, is, ruling lines of any sort whatever on 

 the paper ; many rule merel}' a thin pencil line to guide the eye for 

 inserting the pins, and which is completely hidden when the series is 

 complete ; this when however, spoils tlie effect. The objection to 

 heavier rulings Ijctween the s}iecies is apparent at once, as it entirely 

 prevents the re-arrangement of drawers which is continually necessary, 

 and involves much soiling of the paper, even if the drawer be entirely 

 cleared and the lines rublx-d out. Treferable to this is the plan of black 

 ruled lines on paper cut out and pinned down Avhere recpiired ; it is 

 impossible however, to obtain these sufficiently fine and true to 

 give a good effect. My own are divided by silk threads, glued at the ends 

 to very small circular taljs of paper, through which the pins to secure them 

 are passed. These I make in numbers at a time to the recpiired leng-th, 

 and I find them invaluable, neat and easily moved ; but a caution here. 

 do not use silk twist, as they go baggy according to the state of the 

 atmosphere, and continually stretch loose ; use plain silk threads, and 

 secondly, be sure to keep your threads Avhen made, })inned out on a 

 board till required, or tliey hopelessly tangle. A rpiickcr method than 

 tliis but not nearly so easily shifted, is to use silk thread, l)nt in one lengih 

 for each drawer, passing it round each pin and only fastening ( >ff at the 

 beginning and end of each drawer ; the objection to this is of course 

 that of altering any one cohimn ; you must interfere Avith each by 

 loosening the whole lengih of silk. Lastly and most impiniant, with 

 regard to data, let the locality of each series be clearly indicated where 

 everyone avIio looks through your collection can at once refer to the 

 labels ; if you adopt the method of attaching a label to each pin, go 

 further, and place a larger lal:)el at the foot of each separate series, to 

 avoid the necessity of moving an insect to acquire information, and if 

 neatly printed, these need be no detriment to the appearance of the 

 collection, and certainlj- greatly enhance its value, wliilst affording 

 many a brother collector the opportunity of both giA'ing and accpiiring 

 valuable information, and acting as an incentive to '" fight our battles 

 o'er again." Many excellent suggestions haA'e been made as to the 

 adoption of an nnifersnl system of indicating locality by means of niim- 

 bers, initials, etc., both independent, and also to correspond with maps 

 of England, divided into niunbered sections, but they all lack the quick 

 recalling to the mind of some favored luniting-ground in Fen (jr Forest. 

 My own labels are printed on a small hand-press, in my spare time, on 

 wet days Avhen in the Isle of AVight, and answer every purpose. One 

 fui*ther hint only : always give the date and any very special note of 

 interest, such as " second lu'ood," *' hybernated," etc. 



