m European Butterflies and Moths. 



for this purpose each drawer must be spaced out for the insects it is intended to contain, either 

 by ruled Hnes or by black paper or thread. First of all, measure with a pair of compasses the 

 different widths which will be required for the insects, which must in all cases go well within 

 the lines, and having carefully noted the exact points for the dividing lines at the top, turn the 

 drawer upside down, and measure off the other end of the lines at the bottom so as exactly to 

 correspond with those at the top. After this, you may rule lines with a pen or pencil between 

 each of the opposite points ; but the disadvantage of this is that if the drawer requires re- 

 arranging, it will also require re-papering, as the lines cannot easily be obliterated so as to look 

 well. This may be avoided by using narrow strips of black paper cut to fit the drawer, and 

 secured by pin-points ; or by threading, which is perhaps the most convenient and neatest plan of 

 all. To thread a drawer, you have only to stick a short strong pin, sloping a little towards the 

 wood, at the end of each of the lines which you have already marked with the compasses. Then 

 tie a piece of black thread round the pin at the left-hand top corner, bring it down to the bottom 

 of the drawer, and pass it round the two pins nearest to the left-hand bottom corner of the drawer; 

 bring the thread up to the top again, pass it round the second and third pins at the top; bring it 

 down again, and pass it round the third and fourth pins at the bottom; carry it up again to the top, 

 and so on, till you arrive at the last pin^ round which you fasten off the thread. The smaller 

 Micro-Lepidoptcra are generally arranged in double instead of single rows. The specimens must 

 be pinned exactly in the middle between these lines, placing the males first and the females after. 

 If possible, a sufiiciently long series of each species must be placed in the cabinet to show the 

 limits of its variation. Locality labels may also be pinned under or on one side of the specimens, 

 if the collector wishes to show the locality of each specimen without the necessity of referring to a 

 journal. Although no one who values his collection from a scientific point of view would reject a 

 bad specimen of a species when he has not a good one, yet the beauty of a collection depends 

 so much upon the perfection of the specimens which it contains that no opportunity should be 

 lost of replacing broken, faded, or worn specimens with better. 



Preservation of the Collectio)i. — If the directions previously given about the situation of the 

 cabinet, &c., have been followed, the collection will not be much exposed to be injured by light, 

 dust, mould, or damp ; or even from the larger parasites which destroy collections, such as the 

 larvs of some small beetles and moths. But the most tightly-fitting drawers are no security against 

 the two worst of the enemies against which we have to contend — mites and grease. The most 

 usual preservative from the former is camphor, and it is so far effectual that it will prevent any clean 

 specimens from being attacked by mites ; but if, by any mischance, they should be introduced into 

 the drawers with specimens from the setting-boards, or in any other way, it will not be sufficient to 

 destroy them. Some wash the inside of the drawer before using it with pure carbolic acid diluted 

 with water. Essential oil of cajeput or benzole, dropped on a piece of cotton-wool, and put into 

 an infected drawer, will prove useful, but are liable to grease the drawers ; and both camphor and 

 benzole are accused of attracting grease to the specimens themselves. Dusty specimens may be 

 carefully cleaned with a soft camel's-hair brush ; for the older the specimens, the less likely are the 

 scales to be rubbed off, whereas in fresh specimens the least touch is often sufficient to remove 

 them. Mouldy specimens may be cleaned with a brush dipped in sulphuric ether; and if the 

 application of the fluid does not entirely remove it, the brush must also be employed, taking great 

 care not to injure the fringes. 



Grease is peculiarly liable to attack moths which have lived in the larva state in the stems or 

 trunks of plants or trees — that is to say, all those known as internal feeders. It generally begins 

 by e.xuding from tlie abdomen of a specimen, and gradually spreads all over it, soaking into and 



