172 APHORISM AT A EI^TOMOLOOIOA. 



on to a piece of deal, and papered over, add a second piece of cork, fastened 

 on the first in the same manner: round off this top piece in suitable lengths 

 on each side cross-wise, and also cut out a strip in the centre of it, and you 

 then have a series of the rounded woods of cork, on which you can extend 

 the insects you catch, either with thread, or ordinary card brace, and can place 

 them in safety in the case whicli I proceed to describe. 



"funded secoeities. 



If your extending boards are left lying loosely about, it is ten to one but 

 that some damage will accrue to the specimens that may from time to time 

 be placed thereon. There are various accidents to which they may be exposed, 

 to say nothing of dust, which is an unfailing source of damage and injury. To 

 guard therefore against this, "Ne quid detriment! res entomologica capiat," have 

 a case made of oak, or any other wood, say one foot three inches high, one 

 foot one inch wide, and nine inches deep; with a door to it, and inside a 

 series of slides on which tlie boards can run, so as to be easily taken in and 

 out. I had ray extending boards made of narrow width, so as to have two on 

 each tier, sufficient height being left of course between each for the pins of the 

 insects and the card braces, and I have lately had them again further divided 

 into two each, so as to have four of them one inside the other. The advantage 

 of their being narrow is that you can set the insects one after the other in a 

 row, either sideways or lengthways, and you thus avoid the various "moving 

 accidents" which otherwise the setting of one in the way of another exposes 

 each and all to. 



"SECOND TIIOlTiHTS ARE BEST. 



All that I have said as to the desirableness and necessity of having a 

 cabinet, and that a good one, for the preservation of your specimens, I still 

 keep to; but I have since been made cognizant of another kind of receptacle 

 for them, which is equally good iu most respects, though not quite in all, 

 and better in some. The Eev. William Bree, of Polebrook, near Oundle, 

 Northamptonshire, first shewed me this plan. It is to have cases made, such 

 as backgammon or chess boards, resembling large folio books, corked and glazed 

 inside, covered with leather, and lettered on the outside, at least they may be, 

 "as you like it," "British Entomologt, " "volume i," "volume ii," and so 

 on. 



Since I saw the Ilev, Mr. Bree's, I perceive that Dr. Baikie, of the Naval 

 Hospital, Haslar, has written about these blank volumes in "The Naturalist," 

 vol. ii, page 207, and, which is better, has told us where they may be procured, 

 well made by a person in the habit of making them, namely, Mr. Robert 

 Downie, of Bai'net, Hertfordshire. To him I lost no time iu writing for 



