liv LLOYD'S NATURAL HISTORY. 



the drawers, at least in the same cabinet, should be "made 

 interchangeable. The drawers are made with a side partition 

 to contain camphor, and are provided with tight-fitting glass 

 lids, to exclude air and dust. The drawers are lined with 

 cork, and are covered with white or neutral tinted paper. 



The specimens are then arranged in the cabinet in rows, 

 separated by pencil lines, black threads, or narrow slips of 

 coloured paper. The name of the genus is placed above them, 

 and that of the species, written or printed smaller, below. At 

 least four specimens of each species are required, to show 

 the upper and under surfaces of both sexes ; but it is better to 

 have more, as a row gives a much better idea of a species than 

 a single specimen of each sex, and as many varieties should be 

 added as can be obtained. 



Light bleaches insects ; and if no camphor is kept with 

 them, they are liable to be destroyed by mites, &c. ; if, how- 

 ever, mites should get into the collection, which is generally 

 first shown by a little heap of dust under an infected specimen, 

 benzole should be applied freely to the specimens attacked. 

 It will not injure them, and will soon evaporate. Sometimes 

 an oily substance exudes from the bodies of Moths, especially 

 of those the larvae of which feed within the trunks of trees, such 

 as the dLgcriida and Zeuzeridce. In this case, too, benzole 

 should be poured over the specimen, or it may even be soaked 

 in the liquid. In order to diminish the risk of grease, some 

 collectors open the bodies of large Moths while still soft, and 

 remove the contents of the abdomen, stuffing it afterwards 

 with cotton-wool. 



Twenty years ago the formation of a collection of foreign 

 Butterflies and Moths was a matter of great difficulty and ex- 

 pense. Of late years, however, they have been brought over 

 in such quantities that the market has been completly glutted 

 with them ; and though fine and rare Butterflies from little- 



