56 BRITISH BUTTERFLIES. 



to spend in this pursuit. To preserve insects, it is not 

 absolutely necessary to have either a cabinet or the 

 regularly-made store-boxes ; for, with a little contriv- 

 ance, any close-shutting, shallow box may be extem- 

 porized into a store-box. The bottom may either be 

 lined with sheet-cork (such as is used by shoemakers) 

 which, however, is a rather dear commodity or com- 

 mon wine-corks may be sliced up, and cut into little 

 square patches that may be attached in straight rows to 

 the bottom of the box with strong gum or other cement. 

 The first specimens, the nucleus of the future great col- 

 lection, can be kept here well enough, till a real cabinet 

 can be compassed. 



A cabinet, however, need not be bought all at once ; 

 it may be arranged to grow with the collection and, it 

 may be, with the collector too by having one or two 

 drawers made at a time ; till, in course of time, a suf- 

 ficient number is obtained, when the whole may be 

 fitted into a case at a small additional expense, and 

 then there is a first-rate cabinet complete ; for, to make 

 this plan really advantageous, the drawers should be 

 well made and of good material. Of course, all the 

 drawers must be made to the same " gauge/' to insure 

 perfect fitting when the cabinet is made up. 



These drawers may be made by any clever joiner, but 

 as their construction is peculiar, and not easily described, 

 it is necessary, either that the maker should be accus- 

 tomed to this speciality, or that he be furnished with 

 a pattern, either by buying a single drawer at a dealer's, 



