PRESERVING OF COLEOFTERA. 107 



(two sizes will generally suffice — the larger one for the species 

 which are to be stuck, the smaller for piercing through the 

 cards); scissors, camel's-hair brushes, and a pair of pliers; 

 and, lastly, a drawer fitted up with a dozen or more thin 

 frames of wood — which are packed one over the other; and 

 on to each of which is glued a sheet of cardboard (of similar 

 size), for the insects to be gummed upon promiscuously. 



It is the best plan to mount Coleoptera generally upon cards 

 — at any rate all species smaller than (for instance) a Har- 

 palus; since in this manner they are not only preserved for a 

 far greater length of time than by the ordinary method (and 

 are, moreover, much less subjected to breakages), but we 

 avoid the corrosion which is so apt to take place upon the 

 pin, and which is liable to accumulate to such an extent as, 

 at last, to destroy the specimen in toto. Admitting therefore 

 the advantage of this principle, both in theory and practice, 

 let us make another observation. Those Entomologists who 

 have commenced to adopt this " card-system " (as it may be 

 termed) have usually fallen into error by cutting their cards 

 first (no doubt for the sake of symmetry), and then forcing 

 their insects as it were to fit them. Now this is obviously a 

 mistake. Uniformity, it is true, is most desirable in a well- 

 arranged collection ; but it is certainly not so important as 

 that the specimens should be all properly expanded (legs and 

 antenna3 to their natural length), — without either drawing 

 them out, or contracting them in (as the case may be) be- 

 yond what is right, to suit the respective spaces which we 

 have beforehand allotted to them. It is clearly more con- 

 sistent to adapt the cardfto the insert, than the insect ti- 

 the card', and, such being the case, the above-mentioned 



running out. A single grain, however, of Corrosive Sublimate is suffi- 

 cient for a very large quantity ; ami it is advisable to dissolve thi 

 in the water which is poured first upon the gum. 



